Huayu: From charlatan to great entertainer

Chapter 558 The Unexpected "Mother" - Xiao Liu Goes to the US
At around 11 a.m. on November 17th, Beijing time, Xiao Liu had just come home from the Beijing People's Art Theatre to have lunch.

She is now fully engaged in scriptwriting discussions and martial arts training for "The Book of Peace," but she still returns to her workplace every few days. Having just been promoted from a third-level actress to a second-level actress, she cannot afford to be too unrestrained.

Mia, who had already largely adapted to the local customs, skillfully drove to the door. Suddenly, Liu Yifei's phone rang, and the caller ID showed a random number starting with "000".

She answered without hesitation, knowing it must be her husband's satellite phone.

In 2009, to comply with regulations or due to technical limitations, satellite phone operators may change the original caller ID to a "fake caller ID." These numbers often begin with numbers such as "000" followed by a code representing routing information.

"Hello? What's up?" It was 3 a.m. New York time, and he was still communicating with me via satellite phone, so it was obviously something important.

"Are you home? Go to the yard, you're alone."

"Oh, okay." Xiao Liu, completely bewildered, let Mia drive the car in first, while he strolled around the manor in the sun and sat down on the wooden steps by the lawn.

"Alright, go ahead and say it!"

Lu Kuan, on the other end of the phone, had just received the notification and immediately contacted his wife, saying, "Someone will come to pick you up in ten minutes. The license plate number is Jia A00029."

"Jia A? Football?" Xiao Liu asked with a smile.

"Don't worry, get in the car. Don't bring anyone else. Just tell Mom you need to take care of something at the company for me."

Boss Lu knew that Liu Xiaolv had many questions, so he could only offer a temporary explanation: "Perhaps you should come to New York. Bombardier has just finished its testing and there are no problems."

"Really!" Xiao Liu exclaimed excitedly. "What's all this secrecy about? I can only stay for a day or two. I don't feel comfortable leaving the babies at home; they're not used to being away from me yet."

"How much longer do you plan to stay?" Lu Kuan laughed. "I can't explain it to you now, but you'll understand later. I need you to tell me a lot of information."

Lu Kuan seemed to have received another phone call and hung up temporarily, but Xiao Liu, who was still completely confused, became excited. Their long-distance relationship was finally about to take place in real life!
It wasn't until she got into the black Class A sedan at the entrance of Wenyuhe Mansion and drove into the city that she curiously looked her up and down. However, the soldier driving the car was rather shy and hardly spoke.

What license plate in the Chinese Jia-A league that Xiao Liu mistakenly thought was related to football?
If she were familiar with the rules, she would be quite surprised.

Before the new rules for military vehicle license plates were officially implemented in 2013, Dongda University used the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches to represent different branches of the armed forces, military regions, and headquarters.

For example, Beiping is represented by the character "庚" (Geng), while the black sedan with the character "甲" (Jia) that Xiao Liu was riding in represents the Three Generals: the General Staff Department, the General Political Department, and the General Logistics Department.

Her destination today is the General Staff Headquarters.

Half an hour later, the black sedan drove into a heavily guarded, tree-lined compound in the city center.

Liu Yifei got out of the car and, guided by a staff member, entered a simple but dignified Soviet-style office building. The corridors inside were quiet and slightly old, and the air was filled with a unique solemn atmosphere.

She was led into a simply furnished but extremely tidy office.

The walls were painted snow-white, and several green metal filing cabinets stood against the wall. A large desk was completely empty except for a telephone, a desk lamp, and a pen holder.

A middle-aged man in a Type 07 army uniform stood up to greet her. He had a gentle expression but sharp eyes and took the initiative to shake hands with Liu Yifei.

"Ms. Liu, you must be tired from your journey. I am Qin Yuanzhou, and I work in the Operations Bureau of the General Staff Department of the Central Military Commission. I am responsible for some coordination work this time."

This is the command center for all military operations, responsible for operational planning, command and control, and battlefield construction. The Operations Bureau is the core of this core, directly involved in the top-level design of major military operations.

This leader, surnamed Qin, did not proactively introduce his position, but he was clearly a top-level personnel.

He gestured for Liu Yifei to sit on the sofa, and without much small talk, went straight to the point:
"We invited you here because Comrade Lu Kuan's overseas projects involve some aspects that require urgent domestic cooperation and support. He is unable to communicate directly with you and hopes to establish a safe and efficient communication channel through you."

Xiao Liu was slightly dazed, but could only patiently listen to his explanation: "Okay, go ahead, he already told me."

Qin Yuanzhou said in a deep voice, "What I'm about to tell you, you must not tell anyone except your husband. This is to protect him. Please understand."

"Clear."

“Okay, that’s how it is.” Qin Yuanzhou said succinctly, “You know that Director Lu Kuan is going to film a scene about an aircraft carrier. Now we need your help to send two modified drones over there.”

"These two drones are no different from the ones he is taking to North America now, except that they have an additional concealed storage unit."

"This unit will employ physical shielding and encryption design. The memory chip should be embedded inside the drone's fuselage structure, or disguised as other ordinary components such as counterweights, to avoid detection during routine inspections."

"This storage unit is encrypted with high strength when data is written, ensuring that even if the storage is removed, the original data cannot be read directly. If it is forcibly removed by cutting off the power, it will self-destruct."

Liu Yifei, who had assisted Lu Kuan in operating drones back in Mao County and was now considered a veteran drone pilot, was stunned!

What are you going to do?

Is my husband really filming "Lurking"?

Qin Yuanzhou understood her confusion and, after explaining the precautions, began to offer a brief explanation:
"Director Lu Kuan will provide the two drones you brought with you as registered filming equipment to the entertainment office for inspection so that they can be brought into the filming location."

"We need him to provide us with some exterior details of the Kitty Hawk, while ensuring it's safe to do so. This is very important..."

He paused, perhaps thinking of some difficult problems he was working on, and sighed somewhat helplessly, "This is extremely important."

"These two specially made drones are currently being assembled in cooperation with DJI for production. Once they pass inspection, there will be no problems. Even if the other party checks the video data after filming, they will only be able to see the parts filmed with ordinary lenses."

This was a very serious matter, and Liu Yifei felt a chill run down her spine as she listened. She blurted out, "What if we had found out from the beginning? Wouldn't Lu Kuan have been..."

"No, as I just said, it self-destructs as soon as it is removed. It is just an ordinary component. Currently, our drone chips are among the world's leading, and the US cannot detect anything amiss."

"Besides, they had no incentive to disassemble and study the drone on the spot."

"But only your husband has the opportunity to film this kind of movie, the right reasons, and the safe environment to carry it out. It was also his initiative to ask us to consider it."

At this point, Qin Yuanzhou suddenly stood up, stood at attention, and gave a solemn military salute.

Xiao Liu also stood up, looking completely bewildered. "Leader Qin, what's going on...?"

"I cannot say that I represent too high-level leaders or departments, nor is it appropriate for me to reveal too much."

"But please convey to Comrade Lu Kuan in person that today, on behalf of myself and an ordinary Chinese soldier, I would like to express my sincerest respect and gratitude to your husband."

The Chinese soldier's expression was somewhat moved: "Mr. Qian Xuesen just passed away a little over half a month ago. The whole Party, the whole army, and the whole country are saddened by the loss of a great scientist who forged swords for the country."

"But at the same time, we are very fortunate to have many patriots like Director Lu Kuan who are working hard for the national interest in different fields and on different fronts."

“I watched your husband’s Beijing Olympics on site and I burst into tears. He not only makes contributions on the cultural front, but also seizes this precious opportunity by taking the initiative to create and capture it.”

Qin Yuanzhou gestured for Xiao Liu to sit down. "Please rest assured, we have taken full consideration of his safety, including contingency plans. The organization has also taken into account your father's work at the Chinese Embassy in the United States."

"Even the most core researchers can only obtain the final parameters, or at most hand-drawn diagrams, from this footage. The parameters may come from any conventionally powered aircraft carrier in the world, and the number of people who know where these parameters come from... including the specific liaison personnel like myself, is no more than a single digit."

He paused, and seeing that Liu Yifei understood his meaning, he didn't delve further into the topic.
"That's why, as a precaution, his filming team can't make any changes during this period, and it's not suitable to send the drone by mail, which leaves a trace. After thinking it over, the most appropriate thing is for you, his wife, to take a private plane to deliver this 'trivial letter' under the guise of visiting him."

“We have also made military-grade security preparations for this Bombardier private jet, including the bodyguard with your husband. I think that after we return to China this time, we can grant him a gun license under the name of a special internal security force with a high level of secrecy.”

"Compared to what Director Lu Kuan has done, these are all treatments he deserves."

"Okay, I understand." Now that Liu Yifei had figured out what had happened, she had completely calmed down. "Approximately when can we set off?"

"It should be early next month. He will communicate with the other party about the filming schedule. The specific time will depend on when we expedite the pre-installation of the dual-sensor system. The research institute of Beihang University has already granted DJI the right to use several patents free of charge, so the progress will be very fast."

"During this period, you should be careful not to mention these topics in your daily communication. Although the probability of being discovered is almost zero, it is still better to be cautious."

"I see."

This unusually smooth conversation lasted only half an hour, and Xiao Liu was safely driven home in the same car, coming and going in a hurry.

However, neither she, lost in thought on the train, nor Lu Kuan, far away in a foreign country, currently has a clear understanding of the Kitty Hawk's value.

In 2009, my country's aircraft carrier project was in a difficult exploratory phase, going "from nothing to something".

The Liaoning's predecessor, the Varyag, is still undergoing intensive reconstruction and refitting in Dalian. Domestically, there is a severe lack of firsthand, intuitive understanding of the actual operational details of large aircraft carriers, especially modern aircraft carriers, such as deck operations, island layout, and functional zoning.

Therefore, even an "empty shell" Kitty Hawk is a huge treasure trove of information in its physical structure.

For example, in terms of flight deck design:

The Kitty Hawk has a flight deck that is 318.8 meters long and 76.8 meters wide, featuring a classic layout that combines right-angled and angled decks, and is equipped with four steam catapults and four arresting cables.

This design is a highly efficient aviation operation mode that has been proven in actual combat. Close-up shots can clearly show the location of the catapult opening, the arresting cable grooves, the relative positions and operating logic between the aircraft elevator and the runway, and the island superstructure.

This is an extremely valuable physical reference for Chinese engineers who are planning carrier-based aircraft takeoff and recovery systems.

For example, regarding the island structure and functional zoning:

The island superstructure of the USS Kitty Hawk is a typical example of its conventional propulsion design, integrating the smoke ducts, navigation bridge, aviation bridge, and the base for various radar and communication antennas.

Although the equipment has been removed, the height of each deck, the view from the portholes, and the purpose of the external platforms can still be analyzed in detail through photography.

This helps in understanding the layout of aircraft carrier command and control centers and flight control centers, as well as how to optimize visibility and pipeline layout.

It can be said that the highly effective high-definition images captured by drones, even if they are just "empty shells," are equivalent to a three-dimensional, full-size reference book for our designers and naval personnel. They can be used to verify conjectures, inspire ideas, and even avoid detours.

This is similar to how an architect, even if unable to know the brand of computers and furniture used in a building, can still learn invaluable lessons by carefully studying its load-bearing structure, spatial layout, circulation design, and pipe installation.

For our side, which is working hard to unlock the "design code of aircraft carriers," the value of this macro and micro knowledge about "how an aircraft carrier operates as an efficient platform" cannot be overstated.

Ordinary cameras and storage devices, which undergo rigorous mold checks, cannot capture accurate images and parameters; only modified drones can achieve such results.

……

On December 3, 2009, the Pentagon’s Office of Entertainment officially replied to the production team of “Ball Lightning,” a joint investment by Wondershare, Miramax, and Disney, agreeing to their request to film on the decommissioned USS Kitty Hawk aircraft carrier.

However, it also listed some more cautious and stringent precautions:

The filming period is five days in total, and is limited to designated areas on the flight deck and outside the superstructure. Entry into the ship's internal compartments, hangar, command center, and any areas marked "restricted" or "dangerous" is strictly prohibited.

All filming equipment, including cameras, lights, recording equipment, tracks, drones, etc., must be declared one day in advance, specifying their model and function, and the original equipment must be provided for review. The equipment must be returned on the day of filming.

A list of all crew members required to board the ship, along with their passport information, must be submitted 10 working days prior to the first filming date for security background checks. Those who pass the check will be issued temporary passes, which must be worn at all times.
Ultimately, the Department of Defense reserves the right to review all footage involving the USS Kitty Hawk in the final cut of the film. Any footage deemed potentially revealing sensitive information or damaging the image of the aircraft carrier will be required to be removed or modified…

The terms and conditions totaled over forty pages. The American side had ample experience with such film production collaborations, but because this was a non-Hollywood production, even stricter pre-screening conditions were added.

For us, the smooth arrival of the equipment is only the first step. In the end, we still need to consider the situation on site. This will all depend on how Mr. Lu, the actor with a big heart, adapts to the situation.
-
At 12 p.m. on December 5th, Liu Yifei had already packed her luggage and was ready to depart.

The civil aviation authorities and New York have already communicated and applied for the flight routes in advance, and the Bombardier Global 6000, valued at nearly 6 million RMB, is ready for departure at Beijing Capital International Airport.

This is perhaps a manifestation of the many benefits of being rich. For such a long-distance flight, Xiao Liu only needs to leisurely finish dinner at home, then coax the children a little, and arrive at the airport in about twenty minutes, where he can check in and leave through a special, uncrowded passage.

Not to mention the comfortable flight experience along the way. During the 12-hour flight, she could continue reading the script of "The Book of Peace," watch movies that interested her, and then take a nap before arriving.

However, this sudden "cross-border romance meeting" left Liu Xiaoli completely bewildered. Her elderly mother served her another bowl of porridge, as Liu Xiaoli had been expending a lot of energy practicing swordplay recently.

"Sisi, is something wrong on Xiaolu's side? Why do you suddenly need to come over in such a hurry?"

Xiao Liu stuffed a grape into his mouth, a smug look on his face: "What could be wrong? He just misses me! Yesterday he begged me to come see him, and if I didn't go, he was going to cry!"

"Stop kidding! If he's busy filming a movie, he won't have time for you." Liu Xiaoli knows her son-in-law quite well. "If he's thinking about anything, he should be thinking about the two babies. What's there to think about when you're video chatting with him every day?"

"No way, is your daughter really that unattractive?" Liu Xiaolv retorted, "It's been almost two months since I last saw her. Can a video be the same as the real person?"

What are the differences between videos and real people?
He does not mean that.

Perhaps Liu Yifei didn't think too much about it; she was just showing off her love with a smug look on her face and blurted out those words.
But the older mother, who has been through it all, sees it differently, especially when she thinks about how the nanny sometimes takes out the trash regularly, and she seems to vaguely see tattered strips of cloth...

Sigh, young people are so energetic. They can't stand being alone after only two months. Let them be...

After all, from another perspective, at least the couple is harmonious and loving.

Liu Xiaoli gave her daughter a half-smile and said, "You can't forget about your child just because you have a husband. You can't be away from the baby for too long. Come back soon, you hear me?"

"I know, I'll only be gone for two or three days." Liu Xiaolv looked up and suddenly noticed that his mother was looking at him strangely. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Liu Xiaoli smiled and shook her head: "It's nothing. It's just that your face is so pretty that your husband was smitten with you when you were young."

"Huh?" Xiao Liu suddenly went off-topic for some reason.

"What 'ah'? Eat quickly, and after you finish eating, go upstairs, hug the baby, and then leave." Liu Xiaoli affectionately patted her daughter's shoulder. "Anyway, your aunt is here, so don't worry."

……

In the nursery on the second floor, Liu Yifei sat on the soft carpet, gently rocking Tiedan in her arms.

The seven-month-old baby was grabbing a strand of her hair and stuffing it into her mouth. Her round eyes, like two black grapes, reflected her mother's gentle smile. On the other side, the baby was practicing crawling.

"Silly boy, you can't eat this!" She pinched her son's chubby cheeks, her fingertips tinged with the unique milky scent of a baby.

Tie Dan suddenly giggled, revealing his pink gums, and his little feet kicked happily on her knees.

Liu Yifei sighed softly. This was the first time she had to leave for so long since her baby was born in May.

The excitement of reuniting with her husband after a long separation was palpable, and the thrill of being a courier on the covert front was certainly exciting. But looking at her two toddlers, who were visibly growing bigger every day, the young mother suddenly felt a pang of reluctance. They were her own flesh and blood.

Seeing her mother holding her younger brother and ignoring her with a worried expression, Youyou suddenly cried out "Ah!" like a little lark eager to make a name for herself.

As Liu Yifei turned around, her daughter was crawling on the ground, trying to get closer to her. Just like her mother, her forehead was smooth and fair with a few strands of baby hair sticking up.

"Does Yoyo miss her dad too? How about Grandma takes you on a video call in a couple of days?" Just as she reached out to take her hand, the little girl suddenly opened her chubby arms and uttered two syllables in her sweet, childish voice:

“Ma…Ma!”

Liu Yifei's outstretched hand suddenly stopped in mid-air, and she froze instantly as if struck by a warm and gentle electric current.

"MaMa!" Youyou crawled toward her mother with all her might, and another indistinct yet incredibly clear syllable, like the most delicate flower bud in early spring, filled with complete dependence and instinctive love, softly crashed into her heart.

Time seemed to stretch out infinitely and freeze at this moment.

The warm air in the nursery, the sweet scent of milk on the babies, the soft light filtering in from the window…

Everything converges into a surging yet silent background sound, solely to accentuate the most beautiful call in the world.

Feeling her mother's stiffness, Tie Dan, who was in her arms, seemed to have her attention drawn to her older sister. She anxiously patted her mother's chest with her chubby little hands and imitated her, babbling, "Ma...Ma!"

The bib embroidered with cartoon patterns was wet with drool.

"Oh my, Tiedan can call me 'Mom' now!" Liu Xiaoli went upstairs to check on her daughter and happened to hear her younger brother, who was vying for her attention, also calling out "Mom" in a muffled voice.

Xiao Liu felt a lump in her throat, reached out and hugged Youyou, looking at Liu Xiaoli, "Youyou called first, and they can all call now... God, this is so sudden."

Liu Yifei felt warm liquid welling up in her nasal cavity. She remembered the hardships of ten months of pregnancy, the tearing pain during childbirth, and the first thing she saw after giving birth...

"Mom, they can all call me 'Mom' now." Little Liu choked back tears as she looked at her mother, murmuring incoherently in her children's ears, kissing their soft hair and full foreheads again and again. "Mom heard it...Mom is so happy..."

The elderly mother's eyes were red, but she still couldn't stop smiling. She couldn't help but sigh, "A mother and son are connected at heart, a mother and daughter are connected at heart. They can sense your reluctance to leave, that you are about to depart."

Unfortunately, they had to leave, no matter how reluctant they were. Liu Xiaoli and Zhou Wenqiong tried to distract the child, and Xiaoli peeked through the crack in the door before going downstairs with mixed feelings.

Originally excited to meet up with a "video chat friend" in person, their mood was disrupted by this sudden family drama.

In December, Beijing is already shrouded in darkness before seven o'clock.

Liu Yifei sent her husband a text message in the car to share the good news, and she couldn't calm down until she boarded the plane.

I still have to post a Weibo message as planned, to give myself a "justifiable reason" for this trip, regardless of whether it works or not.

Drink this "forget-your-child milk," leave the kids with grandma, dress up nicely, and go see your husband!

The "poisonous dog food" (a derogatory term for a woman's online persona) poisoned a group of fans. Seeing the goddess so charming and graceful going to find a random dog to be affectionate naturally triggered another round of criticism against the washing machine (a woman's online persona).

The comfortable Bombardier gave Xiao Liu a sci-fi experience of "time standing still": the 12-hour flight from Beijing to New York was exactly the same as the time zone difference between the two places.

Due to the flight direction being opposite to the Earth's rotation and the time difference, she boarded the plane in Beijing at 7 p.m. and arrived in New York at 7 p.m. local time.

She stole 12 hours.

The private jet landed smoothly at JFK International Airport. Liu Yifei thanked and bid farewell to the crew before leaving briskly.

Whether she had truly "forgotten her son" or not, Xiao Liu showed no signs of fatigue from the long flight. After a good night's sleep, she was refreshed and ready to reunite with her husband.

At 7:30 p.m., Terminal 4 of New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport was already brightly lit up with the night.

Liu Yifei and her entourage efficiently completed customs clearance at the business jet terminal and walked briskly toward the main terminal to meet her husband at the agreed meeting point, which was near the Delta Air Lines Flying Leap Lounge.

The view here is expansive, with the airport's dazzling runway lights and the silhouettes of taking off and landing flights visible through the massive glass curtain wall.

Among the passersby were some Asian faces who seemed to recognize the female celebrity, but the latter's eyes lingered around and quickly caught sight of the figure she had been longing for.

"The road is wide!"

The latter waved to her and walked closer. Unexpectedly, his wife rushed forward and jumped steadily onto the man. Relying on instinct and tacit understanding, the latter slightly bent his knees to lower his center of gravity.

Then a fragrant breeze wafted over, and the girl buried her burning cheeks deeply in his neck, which carried a familiar scent, as if she wanted to burrow into his body.

"Wow! Your 172cm 'Great Roc Spreading Its Wings' is a bit of an exaggeration, isn't it? If someone were about your height, wouldn't they be crushed by your weight?"

Xiao Liu even grew a centimeter taller after giving birth, which can be considered an extra buff from the baby.

"What great roc spreading its wings? I'm just a fledgling swallow returning to the forest!"

Liu Yifei wrapped her arms around her husband's neck, her long legs naturally draped around Lu Kuan's waist, clinging to him like a koala.
"Tell me! Did you miss me?"

Lu Kuan didn't answer. At the foreign airport, he didn't hesitate to kiss his wife's luscious lips, express his feelings, and then leave immediately.

His large hands firmly supported the juncture of her firm, elastic hips and thighs, then he lifted the "chubby girl" in his arms slightly, glancing at the drone equipment suitcase that A-Fei was already carrying:

"Comrade Cuiping, you've worked hard."

Liu Yifei understood: "Hehe, serving the people."

Although there were no major incidents or dangers, Xiao Liu was still a little nervous when he passed the test.

After all, it was a very important matter. Fortunately, she had developed a strong heart over the years, and with the careful preparation beforehand, she completely treated herself as a wife visiting her husband, and everything went smoothly.

The two chatted quietly as they walked out of the airport. Liu Yifei, arm in arm with her husband, smiled sweetly, her dimples never disappearing for a while, showing that she had truly "forgotten her son".

A group of assistants and security guards followed silently behind, seemingly oblivious to the sight of their lovey-dovey relationship, while Ah Fei remained unfazed.

He'd been through all sorts of cheesy things, so this was nothing. He simply picked up the suitcase containing the drone equipment, put it in the car, and the group left the airport for the hotel.
-
The hotel room door clicked softly behind her, and before it was fully closed, Liu Yifei had already turned around and slammed the man against the wall in a dramatic, unorthodox motion.

The composure and restraint I had deliberately maintained at the airport vanished instantly, and the air suddenly became thick and scorching.

The young woman's deep gaze locked onto her husband, surging with undisguised longing and yearning, as if she wanted to completely devour him.

"You didn't answer when I asked you if you missed me, did you?" She reached out and grabbed Pinocchio's nose, her eyes glazed over. "What's the point of talking now?"

The washing machine's lust grew even stronger; the desire that had been aroused several times before finally broke through its banks, and it forcefully pulled its wife to the bedside:
"What's the point of talking about love? What matters is action!"

Liu Yifei's heart suddenly raced, and she tilted her head up to meet him coquettishly, but her soft cry was sealed by her husband's burning lips.

His large hand roamed eagerly over Liu Xiaolu's smooth, jade-like back, his fingertips caressing her supple waistline through her clothes, igniting a cluster of trembling flames wherever he went.

"It hurts, I need..."

Outside the window is the dazzling lights of New York City that never sleeps; inside, a small world is churning within.

Soon, the goddess Venus tilted her head back, her neck forming a graceful arc, like the winged sculpture on the hotel entrance, achieving ultimate release under the foreign moonlight.

But... everything comes at a price.

It could be said that "it's all the moon's fault," bringing a warm, heavy dampness, as if it had drawn the New York night fog outside the window into this small space between the quilt and pillow.

Looking at his wife, who was shy and unable to contain herself, Lu Kuan found her adorable.

"Hmm...it's okay, there are plenty of sheets in luxury hotels, we can just change to another room later."

A blush spread from Liu Yifei's body to behind her ears, so much so that upon hearing her husband's words, she buried her head in his neck, unable to lift it, and after a long while, she softly and tremblingly said:
"Waaah, I'm so useless... I thought about what to do for so long at home... but it still turned out like this..."

She bit her lower lip, clinging naked to her husband just like she had at the airport earlier that day, saying, "Carry me to wash up, I know you haven't had enough to eat..."

"No rush, we have plenty of time today." Washing Machine gently lifted the soft, fragrant beauty and set her down on the marble floor of the bathroom.

Steam rose from the edge of the bathtub, bathing the bathroom in a soft, warm light. The man reached out to test the water temperature.
"It was specially disinfected. I put boiling water in it before I left, and now it's about ready to be used up with a little more."

He turned to look at his wife, who was still leaning softly against the doorway, her moist almond-shaped eyes looking at him with undisguised dependence and languidness, as if she had truly lost the strength to move even a step.

"I want you to hold me." Her voice was so sweet and sticky, like melted honey, carrying a softness of complete surrender.

Lu Kuan did as instructed, and the water rippled with the addition of the two new members.

The warmth of the winter night enveloped her body and mind, and Liu Yifei let out a very soft and satisfied sigh. Then, like a nimble mermaid, she lazily turned over in the water and lay on the man's chest.

"I was really about to die just now, so I... I couldn't hold back."

"Ha! What excuse are you making?" Lu Kuan said with a disdainful look. "It's not like you never do this, every time we meet for the first time you do it... mmm!"

Before he could finish speaking, Liu Yifei scooped up a handful of water and splashed it into his mouth. "Nonsense! Drink my bathwater! Hahaha!"

Outside the window, the New York winter night was cold, but the couple lay in this small space, their skin pressed together in warmth, so comfortable that they didn't want to open their eyes.

Were you nervous when you went through customs today?

“Don’t be nervous. The model number declared for customs is exactly the same as the current one. They won’t be able to tell anything. Oh, right…” Xiao Liu suddenly remembered something and told Qin Yuanzhou about his conversation in detail.

Lu Kuan nodded: "I understand. I'll submit the equipment for inspection and filing tomorrow."

“The day after tomorrow you will go with the crew to film for a day and then go back. You can’t act like you’ve come here just to deliver something, even if you can’t even imagine it now.”

He was more cautious abroad, turning on the bathroom's heating and ventilation systems, which made a loud whirring sound. Only their close conversation could be heard between them.

Liu Yifei recalled her emotional journey from hearing the news at the end of last month to today, rubbing the back of her hand against her husband's stubble-covered chin:
"After I got back that day, I researched a lot of information about aircraft carriers. I saw so many people on military enthusiast forums like Tiexue and Chaoda. They might just be ordinary office workers or students, but they were passionately, even naively, imagining our own aircraft carriers on those forums—"

"They debated what it would be called, whether the first one would be 'Beiping' or something else, and speculated about its tonnage, power source, and capacity to carry aircraft... That pure, almost obsessive anticipation was quite moving."

Boss Lu nodded: "We are actually a martial nation. Netizens may criticize this or that on a daily basis, but their expectations for this kind of thing are the same."

"It just so happened that I had this opportunity, so I had to act when the time was right." Lu Kuan stroked his wife's smooth back, recalling his feelings at that moment.

The name Kitty Hawk, in particular, carries special significance—

The scene of the old general being unable to get close to the equipment during his visit to the Kitty Hawk, and having to stand on tiptoe to see it, was heartbreaking.

Liu Yifei looked up at him with her beautiful eyes: "Coincidentally, Youyou and Tiedan both started calling me 'Mom' today. They'll be able to say all sorts of things soon. I'll teach them to call me 'Dad' when I get back."

"They have a hero dad."

Lu Kuan smiled as he thought of his baby, and gave his wife a light kiss on the forehead: "I don't want to be a hero, those two words are too tragic."

"I also have selfish motives."

Xiao Liu glanced at him with her beautiful eyes: "What ulterior motive?"

"Leader Liu is 67 years old this year. He is a respectable official. I am grateful for his contributions to the development of enterprises and the local area out of public interest, but he will always need some help and assistance in the future."

Lu Kuan said in a deep voice, "Because no matter how prominent he is now, he will eventually have a day when he can leisurely look back on his life. But Wenjie has not yet reached his complete form."

"My vision for the next twenty years in the internet and film industries is basically complete, with only minor gaps to fill. But the day when its scale rapidly expands to its peak will be the day that will be the greatest test for me, my team, and even our children."

He looked at his wife, whose eyes were full of love, and said, "A tree that is too strong will break, and a tree that reaches its peak will inevitably decline; this is the way of Heaven."

"Therefore, we must start planning now to unite all forces that can be united and deepen relationships through legitimate means and channels, and through the pursuit of the same just goal, to deeply bind the interests of all parties together."

It's not just about sharing the same fate with the nation in terms of culture, but also about DJI's role in the military industry and HarmonyOS's role in pillar industries like mobile phones and chips.

"That way, when Youyou and Tiedan grow up and take on responsibilities, if they are capable, we can hand over the company to them."

"If they lack the ability or interest, at least the leaders and the country can take care of them and protect them because their fathers did these things."

"At least the people can appreciate our small contributions and remember our good deeds, and pass on this affirmation and tolerance to us."

Even when discussing less-than-ideal precautions, Lu Kuan remained calm and composed, stemming from his most genuine self-awareness.

He knew better than anyone else that apart from his expertise in film and being a competent business leader, he was by no means a business genius, and could only provide general guidance on certain branches of the industry.

He believes that the future he can clearly see is only a little over a decade, and he hopes to pave the way for the children's future before then.

At least for now, whether in the highest echelons of the court or in the farthest corners of the world, there are traces of time travelers buried deep within. Some of the middle-generation forces that are currently growing normally will be companions who will continue to create great achievements together with the ultimate complex of the Asking Realm in the future.

Moved, Liu Yifei buried her face in the man's warm chest, feeling his heartbeat.

She always knew that her lover was not some kind of selfless and righteous man, but only knew how to shout empty slogans about serving the country.

Before he could contribute to the country to the best of his ability, he would always prepare everything perfectly for his little family, while he faced the storms of the outside world alone.

"My baby started talking before he was even seven months old, and Youyou can already stand up by herself while holding onto the edge of the bed. I think they're very smart." A dimple appeared on Xiao Liu's lips. "Maybe we'll be able to enjoy their blessings very early on!"

Lu Kuan laughed and said, "That would be great, then we can retire early and enjoy a carefree life."

"Why wait for pleasure?" The young woman rolled around in the water, then reached for the cat toy, her eyes filled with seductive allure as she looked at the washing machine.
"Twenty years is too long, seize the night and... the day..."

(End of this chapter)