Huayu: From charlatan to great entertainer

Chapter 581 Boss Lu Plays the Beacon Fire Game with the Lords

London is a great place to be.

When it comes to marital relations, they are quite similar to drinking, both focusing on the same "state of mind".

When you're in top form, it's like a connoisseur of fine wine finding a vintage vintage. With the right timing, location, and people, you can naturally fight fiercely and enjoy yourself to the fullest.

The so-called "state" is a state of unity between body and mind.

If you are physically and mentally exhausted, or preoccupied with thoughts, it's like forcing yourself to drink cold wine; not only will it be difficult to swallow, but it will also easily harm your health and spoil your mood.

For example, if one is busy and tired during the day, or harbors resentment, even if there is a beautiful time and scenery, it is like facing fine wine but having no heart to savor it. If one forces oneself to do so, it will taste like chewing wax. It is better to stop early, go to sleep, and wait for tomorrow to fight again.

But if there are no trivial matters to worry about during the day, and a bright moon and gentle breeze at night, one's mind is relaxed and feelings are harmonious, then it is like having warmed wine and prepared cups, and everything will fall into place naturally.

At this moment, it is like meeting a kindred spirit over wine or playing chess with a good friend. There is no need to deliberately seek it; there is a thousand kinds of enjoyment in itself. It can be called "autumn review of troops on the battlefield" or "harmonious music between the zither and lute," and one can enjoy oneself to the fullest.

Just like Lu and Liu, the couple today.

The two had known each other for nearly ten years and had a passionate love affair when they were young. In particular, Liu Yifei, who was always determined, often put herself in a desperate situation of "living towards death".

Now the lovers have become husband and wife, their family members are kind and loving, their children are by their side, and they share the same life and career ideals to be realized, striving forward together...

Such a perfect couple truly embodies the concept of a union of body and soul.

Thus, Liu Yifei's youthful passion, brewed into a richer flavor over the years, transformed into a pool of spring water under the gentle London night.

This kind of intimacy is like opening a jar of fine wine that has been aged for many years:

The fragrance is subtle at first whiff, much like the unspoken understanding between two people sharing a smile;
As you savor it, the layers gradually emerge, like a warm current bursting forth when you lightly touch it with your fingertips;

Drinking together is a time of unbridled joy, a moment of selfless bliss where emotions intertwine.

Their rhythm was like that of a pair of longtime drinking buddies, knowing when to sip and when to drink freely, with every movement perfectly timed.

Especially under the guidance of the washing machine, the "master of wine tasting," the so-called connoisseur understands the nature of wine, and takes little Mulan on a wild ride, feeling refreshed and clear-headed.

Besides acting, this is another key area of ​​his teaching as a "life mentor".

However, some of today's female students are determined to surpass their teachers and are determined to win the first prize by making him surrender!
"Why don't you take a break? Look at all that sweat." This time, Boss Lu wasn't being sarcastic; he was afraid his wife would get dehydrated if she continued like this.

Liu Yifei retorted defiantly, "Tch! You're the one who wants to rest, aren't you? Pretending to care about me."

"Time is on your side, and objectively speaking, our contest is a zero-sum game," the washing machine said with a mocking smile. "But for now, let's not force it."

"I'll insist!" The young woman's voice was a mix of stubbornness and allure as she leaned forward and stared intently into her husband's eyes.

His long, black hair cascaded down his chest like a waterfall, carrying the scent of jasmine after his bath, mixed with the dampness of fine beads of sweat.

The melody of "Ambush from Ten Sides" suddenly began, the rapid strings pounding like rain on banana leaves. Lu Kuan helplessly held it up, saying, "What's the rush? Good wine needs to sober up, and good music needs to be played slowly..."

On a London night, let's use the newly kindled fire to brew new tea, and enjoy poetry and wine while we're young.

……

After washing up, the two snuggled together on the headboard, their hair still damp with moisture.

Liu Yifei saw the washing machine and suddenly took out a small voice recorder from the bedside table, pressed the play button, and heard a string of English conversation with a slightly nasal tone.

"Tomorrow's press conference bloody hell gotta get the local flavor right"

He imitated the intonation in the recording, repeating a few syllables with great interest.

"What mischief are you up to now?" Xiao Liu pinched him irritably, a glint of lightning flashing in his eye. "You're really something! Learning a foreign language in bed with a beautiful woman, huh?"

"You don't understand. I learned this from a leader whose character is as pure as a clear spring," Boss Lu said confidently. "I examine myself three times a day; it's never too late to learn!"

Seeing his wife's expression that said, "You're not talking like a human again," he became more serious, paused the recording, and laughed, "This football club said they bought it for fun and relaxation, maybe they do."

"But since we've bought it, we should make the most of it. It's the same principle as when we boast about the American Dream in the US. It's about continuing to build our image as an international citizen. Reputation and word-of-mouth are sometimes worthless, but they might play a role at crucial moments."

"What does 'The Dragon Slayer' say? What is the real impregnable wall? It's the masses. The people in capitalist countries are also the masses!"

"Oh! I see!" Liu Yifei took his recorder: "You're going to speak with a London accent at tomorrow's press conference, right? You're going to go all out with the acting."

"Of course, but it's not just the London accent." Washing Machine said righteously, "If you're going to do it, be the most dedicated actor. Change your accent for each role. Don't underestimate this little trick; it can still win the audience's approval."

London is just like my hometown, where accents can vary even just a few streets apart.

The north is dominated by Estuary English, the east by Cockney dialect, and South London, where Crystal Palace is located, is quite different.

Boss Lu demonstrated a couple of sentences, showcasing the results of his learning over the past week: "Can you hear this strange accent? It has a Jamaican flavor, and the vowels are pronounced lazily, like you're sucking on a toffee."

Xiao Liu winked at her husband, bit her lower lip and "spit out her tongue": "How about trying this toffee?"

"Don't disturb my resolve, you vixen!" The washing machine, in its sage mode, remained unmoved, letting her torment it in its arms. "I am a person who strives for progress, and I cannot associate with backward elements like you."

"I want to learn too! Let's learn foreign languages ​​together!"

Huh?
“You want to improve too, right? Okay, then you can learn these first…” The washing machine thought of some more interesting ways to play and typed a few phrases to his wife on his phone.

"Come on, read it to me in the South London accent I just taught you."

Oh yeah!

F*** M* honey!

……

Looking at his bewildered wife, Boss Lu couldn't help but laugh: "The practical exercises will begin tomorrow. As your study partner, I will create the best learning environment for you. Now it's up to you."

"You need to be dramatic, even hysterical, you know?"

When Xiao Liu saw the last sentence, he realized what it meant and slapped him hard across the chest. With a scream, Xi Shi's skin visibly turned red.

"I'll go back and learn the Henan-Shandong dialect!" the young woman said fiercely. "I'll make sure to give you a good time when you're at your most... and make you shut up immediately."

When working hard in the fields: Keep pushing! Yes, yes!
At the finale: Oh my god!

Liu Yifei was pleased with her own wild idea and tried to look up at the washing machine's mournful expression, but the latter looked quite interested, even with Pinocchio's nose...

Xiao Liu was shocked!

"Holy crap! Honey, you're a total pervert!"

The following day, June 1st, London time, 10:00 AM.

The usual matchday hustle and bustle of Selhurst Park, located in Croydon, South London, has been replaced by a restless atmosphere mixed with curiosity, anticipation, and a touch of doubt.

The press room below the main stand was already packed, with photographers with their long lenses and tripods crowding the back rows. More media and invited fans were accommodated in a temporary press area set up inside the stadium.

Here we are facing the famous Holmesdale Stand, where huge red and blue striped team flags are already hanging, fluttering in the breeze.

Because it was International Children's Day, the club specially invited many families of young fans. The children, wearing slightly oversized home jerseys and with team logo paint on their faces, curiously looked at the press conference stage covered with red and blue carpets, led by their parents. Their chattering added a touch of innocent festive atmosphere to this commercial event.

The media lineup at the event was impressive, including sports reporters from major newspapers like The Times and The Guardian, as well as tabloid journalists from sources like the Daily Mail and The Sun, who are known for their celebrity gossip.

Mr. Lu's status as an internationally renowned director, as well as his recent close cooperation with Hollywood giant Fox, was undoubtedly a major magnet for reporters, and even local Chinese media and the local Xinhua News Agency rushed over upon hearing the news.

Whispers in various languages ​​filled the air, and flashes of light occasionally illuminated the scene, building anticipation for this major news event that spanned sports, entertainment, and capital.

On the podium, the club's iconic eagle crest gleamed against the backdrop. Club press officer, blonde beauty Susan Carter, stepped to the microphone, smiled, surveyed the room, and began her address in a clear and composed tone:
"Ladies and gentlemen, friends from the media, and members of our most cherished Crystal Palace family, good morning! First of all, I wish all the children present, and those who could not be here, a happy Children's Day!"

She paused briefly, her tone becoming solemn: "We all know that this holiday was established to commemorate the young lives lost in war and to remind us that protecting the happiness and safety of the next generation is a shared responsibility of all humanity. And today, on this hopeful day, our club is about to usher in a new beginning, a beginning dedicated to creating a better future for our community, especially for the younger generation."

"Now, I am very honored to introduce our club's future leader. Let us give a warm round of applause to welcome the internationally renowned director and entrepreneur, Mr. Lu, and his wife, Ms. Crystal, the Berlin Film Festival Best Actress!"

As soon as Susan finished speaking, all the lights in the venue instantly focused on the entrance.

Amidst the curious glances of fans and the rapid clicking of camera shutters by reporters, a young Chinese couple emerged, greeting the fans, club staff, and reporters with smiles.

They're still young, or perhaps they ate two dozen Gillardeau oysters at Boluo Square last night and studied a foreign language all night, yet they still look energetic and radiant.

Mr. Lu changed his casual attire from yesterday, now wearing well-tailored trousers and a shirt, with the collar casually open, appearing both composed and energetic.

He waved to the audience with a calm smile, his gaze sweeping across the entire venue, displaying both the confidence of a business elite and the casualness of an artist.

The Berlin Film Festival Best Actress, who was arm in arm with him, did not look like a famous actress or a wealthy socialite; she chose a very fresh and simple outfit for her first appearance.

Crystal Palace's red and blue home jersey was casually tucked into high-waisted jeans, with the words "Crystal" and the number "510" prominently printed on the back—the birthdays of their two babies.

The perfectly tailored jeans accentuated the female celebrity's long legs and full hips, while a pair of simple white sneakers added a touch of youthful energy. She even wore a red and blue support bracelet on her left wrist, just like a true fan.

The moment the Chinese beauty appeared, she hadn't even said a word before winning cheers and applause from the fans. "She's one of us!"

Liu walked confidently to his seat, squatting down along the way to high-five the young fans in the front row with his not-so-fluent London accent, saying, "Go, Eagles!"

She playfully used the team's nickname, and the little girl with the ponytail who gave her a high five covered her mouth in surprise, ignoring her awkward accent.

Under the spotlight, Lu Kuan gentlemanly pulled out a chair for his wife, who sat down with a bright smile and gave a gentle smile to the audience. At that moment, she seemed like the perfect neighbor that every ordinary fan longed to meet in the stands.

It is clear that Liu Yifei's appearance in this capacity is more likely to win over fans than her book "Taiping Shu" being published in England via Netflix.

I came, I performed, I conquered.

"A very interesting Chinese actress," a sports reporter from The Times couldn't help but whisper.

Indeed, in the world of English football, people are used to seeing the reserved ladies beside Chelsea's Abramovich, or the conservative business attire of Manchester United's Glazer family members. Even the wives and girlfriends of players, who are known for their fashion sense, are usually dressed in glamorous gowns and designer bags.

But the most interesting part is yet to come.

Lu Kuan took the microphone, but instead of immediately walking to the podium, he casually took a few steps forward and approached the fans and reporters below the stage as if chatting with an old friend.

He cleared his throat, his face bearing a perfectly balanced mix of distress and self-deprecation.

“Alright?” he began, attempting a classic, slightly languid South London greeting, but his tone sounded odd, somewhere between trying and off-key, eliciting a soft, good-natured chuckle from the audience.

He laughed, patted his chest, and shouted the fans' slogan: "One of our own!"

This is the slogan that best ignites the Selhurst Park stadium. Although the accent wasn't perfect, the sincerity in trying to blend in instantly won favor, and the stands responded with enthusiastic applause and whistles.

“As you can see and hear,” he shrugged in a very Western manner, “I’m a director, and in my line of work, I always tell my actors, ‘You have to be convincing in whatever role you’re playing,’ including accents.”

Crystal Palace's new Chinese owner paused briefly, his gaze sweeping across the entire stadium, his eyes filled with sincerity and a touch of dramatic frustration: "And now, I believe one of the most important roles in my life is to be a proper Crystal Palace person. An ordinary fan who can stand in the Holmesdale stands and cheer for our team for 90 minutes."

"But I must confess that I have spent a lot of time on the other side of the Atlantic over the past decade or so, which has unfortunately caused my ears and tongue to suffer a serious 'Hollywood-style' pronunciation."

He emphasized the last word, which drew another burst of laughter from the audience.

"Okay, let's get back to the main topic." Boss Lu returned to the stage, facing all the fans, reporters, and staff:

"As of yesterday afternoon, the FA and the Premier League have officially approved our application. I will come to Crystal Palace with great sincerity and work together with everyone to move towards the future."

“My whole family are football fans. During my time as the chief director of the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics, the few times I managed to watch the men’s football matches were the most.”

Mr. Lu turned his head to indicate to his wife: "My wife is the same; she even arranged for the World Cup qualifiers at La Bombonera Stadium during our South American honeymoon."

"Perhaps it also includes our children, like all the children celebrating here today—"

“He is only a little over a year old now, but he was already kicking a lot in his mother’s belly. He has a solid lower body and was able to stand and walk even earlier than his sister.”

Another chuckle rippled through the audience. Unbeknownst to them, the fans present had been captivated by the Chinese director who spoke with a Croydon accent.

"Of course, besides my love for the club, there is another very important reason why I decided to stand with everyone."

Lu Kuan changed the subject, looking at his wife with a gentle smile in his eyes, "Coincidentally, my wife's English name is also Crystal, and my twin babies just turned one year old. Therefore, this is not only an investment, but also a special gift for our whole family."

The washing machine didn't forget to solidify its excuse of "giving a gift." On stage, Xiao Liu smiled as she watched her husband put on an act, and then blew him a kiss on camera.

She possesses both the reserve of an Eastern woman and the generous enthusiasm of a Western woman.

A burst of good-natured whistles and thunderous applause erupted from the audience. In English football culture, this kind of heartwarming family interaction is always the most touching soft spot.

Tony, the airport ground staff member from the other day, exclaimed in admiration, "Who wouldn't love a boss like that?"

For ordinary fan families who brought their children to the press conference, a boss who values ​​family and loves his wife and children is far more trustworthy than a cold, impersonal symbol of capital.

In the opening ten minutes or so, the actor, who won over the hearts and minds of the fans and established his persona, has at least gained the trust of the fans and club staff.

His arrival was timely:

Now is undoubtedly the time when Crystal Palace is heading towards a dead end. They are barely avoiding relegation in the Championship and the team is teetering on the brink of collapse. This Chinese tycoon is one of the wealthiest in Asia, with assets all over the world.

His reputation is good:

The news, which started circulating last night, prompted all Crystal Palace fans to immediately search for information about him.

On both Chinese and Western websites, he is described as a Chinese entrepreneur, philanthropist, and an artist who has won numerous top honors in European and American films. The only difference is the nickname "washing machine" used by Chinese netizens, which is somewhat incomprehensible.

Their attitude was impeccable!
Putting everything else aside, who could master the Croydon dialect of English in such a short time? Let alone such a big boss, many Premier League foreign players can't even speak English!
The most ordinary fans, the cornerstones of the team, felt respected—respected by a top-tier wealthy individual from the East.

After the slogans were shouted and the people's hearts were won over, it was time to make empty promises.

In particular, the promises made by this Eastern director have a touch of Chinese flavor, reminiscent of Huangqiao sesame seed cakes, roujiamo (Chinese hamburger), and donkey meat sandwiches.

The electronic screen behind me lit up and displayed the words "CPFC 2011-2016: The First Five-Year Plan," which was full of a grand narrative.

While foreign journalists were still trying to understand, the Xinhua News Agency reporters in the audience were completely bewildered...

Five...five-year plan?
"Fellow fans, I will now briefly introduce our future goals and plans."

On stage, Xiao Liu watched with amusement as her husband went from "the United States" to "the United States." Although he didn't claim "this is my second hometown" like some people do, he had clearly gained initial support from the fans below the stage who were already cheering excitedly.

"Overall, my approach to building Crystal Palace will firmly grasp one central theme and two fundamental points!"

"One central principle is that we must always adhere to the development philosophy centered on the fans and unswervingly follow the fan-centric approach of 'coming from the fans and going to the fans'!"

He paused deliberately, allowing this core idea to resonate deeply.

The Xinhua News Agency reporter in the audience couldn't help but smile knowingly, yet somewhat bewildered, while the local British reporter tried to understand the expression full of Eastern wisdom and philosophy in his South London accent.

"Fans are the soil for the club's survival and development, and the source of its strength. Every decision the club makes must be based on safeguarding the fundamental interests of the vast majority of fans! This is the core of all our work, and it must never be shaken!"

While this explanation of the "fan route" may sound somewhat unfamiliar, its core message—that the club belongs to the fans—instantly drew enthusiastic applause.

"Under the guidance of this center, we must firmly grasp two fundamental points to promote the club's sustainable and high-quality development!"

"The first fundamental point is to vigorously strengthen the construction of a youth football talent development system and elevate it to a strategic level for club development!" Lu Kuan held up one finger. "Youth training is our hope project and the future of the club. We must increase investment, build a top-notch youth training academy, and discover promising talents throughout the UK and the world to achieve 'self-sufficiency' and 'endogenous growth' of talent, creating an inexhaustible talent pool!"

"The second key point is to accelerate the modernization and expansion of Selhurst Park Stadium!" He held up his second finger. "The stadium is not only a place for matches, but also our common home, a 'battleground for building spiritual civilization,' and the cornerstone for the club to achieve 'the unity of economic and social benefits.' A larger, more advanced, and more comfortable stadium means a better viewing experience and more matchday revenue, which can provide a solid 'material guarantee' for our great cause of 'winning the Super League title'!"

The Xinhua News Agency reporter was moved to tears. Is this something I could hear for free in the "Empire on which the sun never sets" in the ditch?
Eight thousand kilometers away from Beijing, in London, following the ghost that haunted Europe in 1848, another "ghost" appeared in a very humorous way.

On stage, Mr. Lu was making grand promises, but what exactly was this so-called first five-year plan?
They were promoted to the Chinese Super League in 2011, entered the top half of the league in 2012, entered the Europa League in 2013, entered the top six in 2014, and won a championship for the fans in 2015!
Aside from less realistic options like the Premier League and Champions League, the main targets are cup competitions with a higher degree of unpredictability, such as the FA Cup and League Cup.

Liu Yifei, who had only accompanied her husband to a few games, didn't understand the significance of these goals, but when he finally promised to invest no less than £2 million in the club over five years, the whole stadium erupted in cheers!
Even someone as strong as Abu is nothing special.

This young director, who disguised himself as a global citizen, and his sophisticated young wife, captivated the hearts of at least tens of thousands of Londoners in just one hour.

Watching the cheering fans doing the wave, the Xinhua News Agency reporter was itching to use an exaggerated headline to report today's news!

"Your Majesty the Supreme Emperor of the Crystal Palace, welcome to your loyal London!"

……

As FA officials, staff, and fan representatives spoke, the press conference moved into the Q&A session, and the reporters were practically fighting, because the news was so high-profile and had so many elements.

Chinese capital, British teams, cross-industry operations, youth training revolution, infrastructure powerhouse, five-year plan, Premier League ambitions...

A reporter from The Times raised his hand and asked, "Lou, will you be in charge of the club's future operations? How do you balance team management with your regular job...?"

"By the way, I'm a big fan of yours and I'm the deputy head of the 'Ball Lighting' hashtag group on Twitter. I'm really looking forward to the premiere at the end of the month."

"Thank you," Mr. Lu said with a smile. "In fact, I have more than ten companies of different types in China, but I am only responsible for the overall strategy and my main job as a director."

"The same applies to club management. I will find a sufficiently excellent director to coordinate professional work, and a CEO to be responsible for business operations. I myself will not interfere in areas I do not understand."

The Sun is a magazine that primarily reports on celebrity and player gossip, making it highly credible. The reporter was clearly very curious about Liu Yifei, who had been appearing alone and beautiful all day.

"Mr. Lu! Crystal! Look here! Wow, you two are such a glamorous couple! My question is, how long do you plan to stay in London? Will you be coming to the games as often as the Abramovichs, or will you be remotely managing things like some American owners? Also, Crystal, will you become the new fashion icon for Crystal Palace's 'WAGs' (wives and girlfriends)?"

"Please let my wife answer this question."

Xiao Liu smiled and said, "Yes, we will. In fact, this year is a World Cup year, and we already have plans to go to the final. As for our own home games, we will definitely make time to support them. We stand with the fans."

"As for fashion, you mentioned..." The Chinese actress shrugged, feigning helplessness: "I think the Crystal Palace jersey I'm wearing today is the best haute couture I could ever wear, thank you!"

"Wow!" A round of applause erupted in the stadium. The fans couldn't have liked this young Chinese couple more, especially the girl next door who always looked at her husband with a smile and never said a word.

Good heavens, she's already a mother of two! You'd never guess.

The fans turned their puzzled gazes to the smiling Boss Lu, and inexplicably began to speculate about his inhuman behavior.

Financial Times reporter: "Roy, your commitment to such a large investment is impressive. But the Premier League's Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules are tightening. How will your investment plan be implemented without violating FFP?"

"Is this investment a conversion from equity investment into interest-free loans, or will it rely on commercial development to increase the club's own revenue? Furthermore, is there any policy support from the Chinese government behind this investment?"

"Oh, that's a tough question. Are you from the BBC?"

The other reporters burst into laughter. It's not news in the industry that the BBC takes money to do things and uses filters. This person had countless heated exchanges with the BBC during his time as the chief director of the Olympics.

"It was just a joke, don't take it to heart." Lu Kuan smiled at the embarrassed reporter. "We Chinese have always followed the rules. You see, before the acquisition was officially completed yesterday, we didn't reveal any information to the fans to put pressure on them or lower the price."

"As for the FFP you mentioned, adhering to it is beyond question. My investment in the team is simple: it comes from the added value in the film industry and the income from my personal overseas assets, injected in the form of capital increase and share expansion to ensure financial health."

The slash youth has never forgotten his main job: "For example, the movies I've shown in Europe in the past, and 'Ball Lighting' at the end of this month. The fans' support for the movie is their support for the team."

The Xinhua News Agency reporter was a little excited: "Director Lu, congratulations! My question is probably one that many domestic fans here are also concerned about: As a Chinese director and entrepreneur who has achieved great success internationally, and now the owner of an English football club, will this unique identity become a special bridge connecting Chinese and British football?"

Specifically, will Crystal Palace consider collaborating with Chinese football in the future? Furthermore, how will you leverage your nationality and the vast Chinese market to open up new avenues for the club's development?

Having been a seasoned interviewer for nearly a decade since his debut, Mr. Lu naturally recognized this as a helpful question from a fellow townsman.

Of course, this was also the key point that Anna Huang used to persuade the FA a couple of days ago:

"My attitude toward cooperation with Chinese football is to 'remain open and pragmatically advance'."

"Specifically, if there are Chinese players with sufficient potential and a strong desire to challenge themselves in Europe in the future, I would be very happy to act as a club owner to facilitate communication and provide a platform for trials and demonstrations. Everything will follow the pure laws of football and business rules, and be conducted in a fair and impartial manner."

"What we hope to see and welcome are not overseas players who are merely there for commercial gain, but players like Fan Zhiyi and Sun Jihai who can truly establish themselves. Crystal Palace's doors are always open to talented players, no matter where they come from."

He paused for a moment: "As for the second point you mentioned..."

"My goal is to make Crystal Palace a club that is truly loved and recognized by Chinese fans."

He directly pointed out the core business model: "As everyone knows, the Premier League's huge television broadcasting revenue is shared globally, but the total size of this money depends on the Premier League's popularity worldwide. In other words, every new overseas fan creates value for the entire league, including Crystal Palace."

He gave a vivid example: "It's like the NBA in the United States. The Houston Rockets received unparalleled support in China because of Yao Ming. This support translated into huge commercial success and an increase in the league's influence."

"This is what we are learning from, so in the future you will see seasonal China tours, Crystal Palace's official Weibo account in China and other media matrix, as well as a series of officially certified fan associations to increase Sino-British exchanges."

Mr. Lu habitually offered a concluding remark: "Just as art knows no borders, I hope to see football also know no borders. Whether it's Chinese films or British football, people in both countries who love their sport can cheer for it."

“Even in the future, I would like to organize the filming of some documentaries about the team’s five-year plan, or a movie similar to Goal. Or invite superstars like Leonardo DiCaprio to watch the game. You can trust my connections and influence in Hollywood.”

If Lu's meticulous packaging and "dramatic performance" had won over the simple local fans, then his fluent answers to several questions completely put the club staff, the FA, and the Premier League officials at ease.

This Asian tycoon is by no means a dabbling fool, but a shrewd operator who is well-versed in business rules and knows how to transform cultural influence into commercial value.

His open-mindedness and long-term vision made it difficult even for the most discerning British sports journalists to find fault with him.

Liu Yifei, who listened with a smile throughout, perfectly embodied the "power of gentleness."

She didn't need to say much; her elegant and poised demeanor, her friendly interaction with fans, and the trusting and loving look in her eyes when she looked at her husband all greatly softened the sense of distance brought about by the capital acquisition.

Interestingly, during the Q&A session with fans, Ms. Liu, who came to be a "vase" for her husband, was repeatedly mentioned.

The little girl who gave her a high five got priority on Children's Day: "Hi Crystal, I'm Kylie Jenner, and I'm traveling in England alone."

“Oh, you’re so brave.” Liu Yifei took the microphone: “Jenner, it’s nice to meet you.”

The little girl seemed to come from a wealthy family; her demeanor and bearing were quite distinguished. "If I asked you to be the club president of Crystal Palace, would your husband agree?"

"Hahaha!" The audience burst into laughter.

"Ella, was there anything I did that you didn't like?" Lu Kuan teased, noticing that Jenner, who looked to be in her teens, looked somewhat familiar.

Jenner shrugged: "No, I also play soccer, but there's no such soccer in America. I just think that Crystal, as a girl, can be a good club president on her own, so I'd consider having a trial with Crystal Palace."

“I’ve seen your movie ‘A Home Away’. Your action scenes are really cool, much cooler than Beckham’s wife. Victoria is just pretending to be cool.”

Even the time traveler wouldn't recognize her, and naturally, Xiao Liu wouldn't recognize this future American internet celebrity either. How could she have predicted that there would be one of her little fans here?

"Perhaps I'm not up to the task of this job, thank you for the recommendation, but I think Victoria is beautiful," she said, not wanting to cause any controversy, even though such topics are commonplace in the Premier League, with wives and girlfriends vying for attention.

However, if Xiao Liu joins, her status will be quite extraordinary, as she is the club owner's wife!
Just like actors in the entertainment industry compared to capital, there is an inherent class divide.

“Okay, one last question: would you let your child play soccer in the future?” She seemed eager to get advice from this cool older sister.

Liu Yifei smiled and said, "Perhaps my son will. He is stronger than his peers and may be interested in this. We will not interfere."

It is well known that the girlfriends of top athletes are either supermodels or celebrities;

As is widely known, Tiedan was the only hope for tens of millions of laundry detergent consumers in China even before he was born.

This news has reached China in the past two days, and laundry detergent and liquid detergent manufacturers may be eagerly anticipating the future European and American special zones.

After all, with so many fans, who hasn't fantasized about becoming a super scout, earning huge sums of money while also chasing after women abroad?
……

The press conference went very smoothly. Each media outlet received the information and materials they needed, and some even had their headlines ready before leaving the press conference.

The Sun's reporters excitedly typed away, and the headline was already taking shape: "Eastern Goddess Descends on Selhurst! Crystal Liu's Charm Leads a New Fashion Trend." They racked their brains to search for Liu's past fashion photos and movie clips, preparing to add this new "boss's wife" to the big discussion of the Premier League WAGs.

The Financial Times, on the other hand, focused on interpreting Lu Kuan's business model, with headlines such as "Five-Year Plans and Fan Approach: How Chinese Tycoons Are Transforming British Football with Eastern Philosophy," emphasizing its strategy for expanding into the Chinese market and its sustainability under FFP rules.

Serious media outlets such as The Times reported the acquisition, the huge investment commitment, and Lu Kuan's sincere attitude in a relatively objective manner, with the headline "Chinese director Lu Kuan officially takes over Crystal Palace, promising huge investment and long-term planning."

The tone of Xinhua News Agency's press release was naturally inspiring: "Chinese capital and wisdom win London's recognition, Lukuan injects new development concepts into Crystal Palace," highlighting cultural confidence and commercial success.

And, as expected, there's the publicity boost from the acquisition of Crystal Palace for his films:

Even Empire, Britain's largest film media outlet, couldn't resist adding a bit of film trivia to its website: "The director of 'Ball Lightning' has a new film: acquiring a football club—reality is more exciting than science fiction!"
But the scenery isn't necessarily unique to this place.

Just as Lu Kuan was saying goodbye to the club staff and fans and preparing to leave the venue to begin his two-day trip to London with his wife, the Xinhua News Agency reporter suddenly greeted A Fei and then stepped forward to report.

"Director Lu, I have firsthand knowledge of some situations in China, which should be useful to you."

Boss Lu looked at him with some surprise. "Please speak."

"It's 6 PM in China now, and several... several of your competitors have 'coincidentally' released major announcements one after another!"

The young Xinhua News Agency reporter wiped the fine sweat from his brow, then glanced at his phone again. The confirmation message from his colleague made him even more certain:

"First, LeEco Culture officially announced that it would be listed on the ChiNext board on August 1."

This news is essentially a confirmation of old news, but the timing of its release is quite significant.

"Following this, Mr. Wang, the CEO of Wanda Group, announced the launch of a comprehensive internationalization strategy, with the core first step being the planned acquisition of AMC, North America's largest cinema chain, within one year!"

The young reporter took a deep breath and dropped the bombshell: "Tencent Technology and Ali Group have just issued a joint statement announcing a comprehensive strategic partnership through unequal shareholding! Starting with the upcoming '618' shopping festival, they will engage in deep collaboration in areas such as social media and payment channels, and more..."

His slightly trembling voice seemed to indicate some concern for the Crystal Palace owner before him:

"Tencent also announced that it will officially launch its own mobile instant messaging software 'Q-Message' on '618' day, and claimed that it will integrate the traffic resources of the original QQ, Ali Wangwang and even LeTV Culture to fully drive traffic to it!"

"Director Lu." The reporter looked up at him, with the keen eye of a journalist, and kindly reminded him, "Their news releases... were only a few minutes apart."

The young man didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was crystal clear.

These three pieces of news, like three cold arrows from different directions, precisely targeted the core of his domestic business empire while Lu Kuan made a high-profile debut in London and attracted global attention.

LeEco's IPO is raising funds to build its strength, Wanda's overseas expansion is aimed directly at its film and television layout, and the alliance between Tencent and Ali is a "cooperation of the century", which is aimed directly at the strategic lifeline of Wenjie.

Even though she had expected it, Xiao Liu, sitting in the back seat of the car, couldn't help but look up at her husband. The competitors were clearly coming on strong this time, and they seemed to be working together in a coordinated manner.

Lu Kuan waved and smiled at the Crystal Palace fans who happened to be passing by, then turned to the reporter: "Okay, thank you for the news, it's very timely."

"Director Lu...Director Lu, do you need any assistance from us to make your voice heard?" The nature of Xinhua News Agency is well-known, and this young reporter knew the background of the richest man in front of him.

"Now we'll conduct an exclusive interview with you. If you have any questions or requests, we can relay them back to China."

"Thank you!" Boss Lu was very grateful for his enthusiasm, but at least there was no need to be so anxious. "These things can't be rushed. Let me discuss it with the company first."

This group of people chose this particular time to "coincidentally" strike first, partly because they were pressured by their own announcement of releasing WeChat on June 618th, and partly because they were taking advantage of their own overseas promotion of "Ball Lightning" to launch a preemptive strike.

With a touch of revolutionary romanticism, he gestured to Liu Yifei in the car, "Look, lying to my wife about buying her a gift is already a breach of promise. I can't break my promise for the two-day trip to London."

Lu Kuan patted him on the shoulder and said no more.

As the Rolls-Royce drove away, the Xinhua News Agency reporter, who was dealing with this man for the first time, inwardly marveled at his composure, as if he hadn't taken the other party's aggressive demeanor to heart at all.

He imagined that today, the richest man in mainland China and this oriental beauty were laughing and watching the world go by on the banks of the Thames, using her as a pretext to acquire Crystal Palace.
At the same time, various warlords within the country may have already openly or secretly sworn blood oaths, and a news headline that inexplicably embodies their carefree and unrestrained nature comes to mind:
[The eight major sects besiege Bright Peak, and Boss Lu plays tricks on the feudal lords with the beacon fire!]

(End of this chapter)