Rebirth of Chinese Entertainment, starting with the strategy of 95 flowers to counterattack

Chapter 190 Zhou Ye: Mom, Happy New Year!

At six o'clock in the morning, a thin layer of mist still shrouded Taihu Lake.

Frost covered the tree-lined paths of the villa area, and a few early-rising sparrows hopped on the branches, chirping merrily.

In the kitchen, steam was puffing out of the steamer, and the aroma of rice mixed with the sweetness of red bean paste filled the air.

Zhang Ruonan was wearing a light pink cotton and linen loungewear set. The wide neckline revealed her slender collarbone, and the sleeves were rolled up to her elbows, revealing her fair forearms.

Her long hair was casually tied up with a wooden hairpin, with a few stray strands hanging down beside her ears, swaying gently as she kneaded the dough.

"Auntie, does this dough need to be kneaded to this consistency?" she asked softly, her fingers deftly pressing into the dough, leaving little indentations.

The morning light shone through the gauze window, casting fine shadows on her eyelashes, and the little bit of flour on the tip of her nose looked especially adorable.

Lin Jing, who was cooking millet porridge nearby, came over to look when she heard this: "Yes, yes, Nan Nan is so smart!"

She laughed so hard that the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes smoothed out. "Much better than Yangyang, he can't even roll a dumpling wrapper into a round shape..."

Zhang Ruonan smiled slightly, and with a flick of her wrist, she kneaded the dough into a smooth ball.

She was so focused that she didn't even notice the tiny beads of sweat forming on her forehead.

"Auntie, can I make a few more sesame-filled ones?" she asked, looking up with bright eyes. "Gu Yang said he likes sweet glutinous rice balls..."

"Good good!"

Lin Jing felt a warmth in her heart; this girl even remembered her son's little hobby.

She's a good family-oriented child!

Just as I was about to answer, I heard footsteps at the kitchen door.

Gu Yang stood at the kitchen doorway, unsure how to begin: "Mom... Nan Nan..."

"Awake so early?" Lin Jing didn't even turn her head. "Go and call your dad back for dinner. That old man went fishing early this morning..."

Zhang Ruonan turned to him and smiled sweetly: "Good morning, I'm learning to make tangyuan with Auntie."

There was still a little flour on the tip of her nose, making her look so cute it was heartbreaking.

Gu Yang opened his mouth, but in the end he could only say dryly, "...I'm going to find Dad."

On the shore of Taihu Lake, Gu Jianguo was smoking a cigarette, intently staring at the buoy.

"Dad!" Gu Yang ran over. "Something terrible has happened!"

"Is the fish hooked?"

Gu Jianguo was startled and jumped up.

"No!" Gu Yang cried out in frustration, "Several girls are coming to our house to wish us a Happy New Year later..."

? ? ? ? ?

Gu Jianguo's cigarette fell to the ground: "How...how many?!"

"Yes! Zhou Ye is already at the airport. Tian Xiwei said she'll arrive this afternoon. I wonder who she's with..."

"You little brat!" Gu Jianguo grabbed his fishing rod, ready to strike. "Nannan's still at home!"

"Dad! Dad! Calm down!"

Gu Yang pleaded for mercy while dodging, "Since we're already here, you have to cover for me!"

"Isn't all this to carry on the Gu family line?"

"Screw you! I'll beat you to death, you bastard!"

Why are you yelling at your wife?!

"..."

"If Mom finds out, you might not have me as your son anymore..."

These words were like a pause button being pressed, leaving Gu Jianguo frozen in place, fishing rod in hand.

The father and son stared at each other, and the air suddenly became quiet.

"...Send them away quickly after you've treated them well," Gu Jianguo gritted his teeth, "Don't let your mother find out you're juggling multiple relationships!"

"Your mother is so petty!"

"Back then, I once got drunk and bragged that I had written love letters to my classmates in high school, and she's been bringing it up for decades ever since!"

"Someone like you might get their legs broken..."

"Really? It's that serious?" Gu Yang shrank back.

"What do you think?"

"I understand!" Gu Yang said nervously, "You should go home and get ready, I'll go pick them up."

Gu Jianguo bent down to pick up the cigarette butt: "Okay, I understand!"

Ten minutes later, Gu Yang's car disappeared at the end of the road.

Gu Jianguo slowly cast his line into the water, muttering to himself, "Let's catch one first!"

"It's nothing..."

"A fisherman will never be empty-handed..."

……

At Terminal 3 of Hangzhou Airport, Zhou Ye stood at the exit, dragging a small silver suitcase.

Today she wore a beige cashmere coat, a light camel turtleneck sweater underneath, a fitted light brown wool long skirt, and understated nude ankle boots.

Her hair was still short, so she deliberately chose a smooth, long, flowing style. Her makeup was exquisite but not heavy, and she chose a gentle mauve lip color. She looked both proper and elegant, which was the standard outfit for "meeting the parents".

"Xiao Yangzi!" She waved from afar, her smile brighter than the airport lights.

Why are you so slow! Stop dawdling!

"I've been waiting for so long!"

"Aren't you happy to see me!"

"Hehe, don't be too touched!"

"That's what you call a surprise..."

"Kiss..."

As soon as he got in the car, Gu Yang was at his wit's end looking at Zhou Ye, who was excitedly chattering away.

He tightened his grip on the steering wheel: "Um... there's something I need to tell you..."

"Hmm?" Zhou Ye was touching up her lipstick. "Zhang Ruonan is at my house right now."

"What?!" Zhou Ye almost smeared lipstick on her cheek. "How could she... Wait, you guys..."

Gu Yang quickly explained, "It's not what you think! Something happened at her family's home..."

He took a deep breath and began his first Oscar-worthy performance of 2018.

Gu Yang's expression instantly turned serious, his Adam's apple bobbed twice, and the knuckles of his fingers gripping the steering wheel turned slightly white.

He deliberately lowered his voice, making it slightly hoarse: "Little Coconut, do you know what Ruonan was doing when I met her?"

Zhou Ye was taken aback by his sudden seriousness and subconsciously shook his head.

"Taobao model at Hangzhou Sijiqing Market".

Gu Yang's voice was heavy, as if it weighed down by a thousand pounds, "Every day I have to shoot dozens of outfits, standing from six in the morning to ten at night, and I don't even earn three hundred yuan a day."

He turned his head, his eyes flashing with a sharp light: "She still wants to send 250 yuan home from this 300 yuan."

The streetlights flashing past the car window cast flickering shadows on his profile, making his expression appear particularly somber.

"Isn't she the one they were looking for for the third female lead in our drama 'Go Go Squid!'? When they called..."

Gu Yang's voice suddenly choked up, "It was pouring rain, and she was crying so hard she couldn't breathe next to the fire hydrant."

Zhou Ye's fingernails dug unconsciously into her palm.

"A small business owner of a photo studio..."

Gu Yang slammed his fist on the steering wheel. "That day I wanted to bully her, and she ran away with all her might."

"That beast threatened to blacklist her, making sure she couldn't get a single order in Hangzhou."

Zhou Ye cried out in surprise, tears instantly welling up in his eyes.

Do you know why she works so hard?

Zhou Ye shook his head, his eyes filled with tears.

"Her hometown is a remote mountain village in Wenzhou."

"She has three younger siblings, the youngest of whom is eight years younger than her!"

"She had to carry her younger brother on her back and cook when she was eight, and she had to do laundry for the whole family when she was ten..."

Gu Yang continued, her voice growing softer, "She changed my brother's diapers, and she helped my sister with her homework..."

Zhou Ye's breathing became increasingly rapid, and his fingers unconsciously tightened their grip on the seatbelt.

“When she was twenty,” Gu Yang suddenly sneered, “her parents were already rushing to set her up on blind dates. Do you know why?”

He turned to look at Zhou Ye, his eyes flashing with anger, "Because they think their daughters can't earn money, so they might as well get married early to raise money for a dowry!"

"Oh my god..." Zhou Ye covered her mouth, her delicate makeup ruined by tears.

"Why do you think she became my assistant after becoming an actress?"

Gu Yang's voice trembled with suppressed emotion, "She sends most of her monthly salary home, and she can't even afford to buy herself a decent piece of clothing..."

"Even so, her parents called during the Chinese New Year asking for money, saying they wanted to buy a villa for her younger brother in the county town."

"Waaah..." Zhou Ye couldn't control himself anymore.

“I went to the company to pick up some documents the night before last,” Gu Yang’s voice suddenly choked up, “and I saw her all alone… on New Year’s Eve… watching the Spring Festival Gala replay with just a bowl of instant noodles…”

"She doesn't dare to go home, nor does she want to; she'd rather hide at the company!"

He slammed his fist on the steering wheel. "Little Coconut, tell me, can I not take her home?"

Zhou Ye was sobbing uncontrollably, her delicate makeup ruined.

She was pampered by her parents since childhood, and her older sister spoiled her rotten. She had never heard of such a thing before.

"I...I don't know..."

She sobbed as she reached for a tissue, "Ruonan, she's usually so gentle. She always brings me breakfast..."

Gu Yang seized the opportunity to hand over a tissue, a hint of guilt flashing in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by determination: "So... you don't mind if she's here too, right?"

"Of course not!" Zhou Ye glared at him, her eyes red. "I have to treat her even better!"

"Xiao Yangzi, you did the right thing!"

She suddenly remembered something and frantically rummaged through her bag. "I'm giving her this necklace! And this bag... Oh, right, I know a really great lawyer..."

Gu Yang glanced at the flustered girl in the rearview mirror and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Get it!

What a genius he is!

"By the way, when you see Nannan later, don't bring up these sad memories!"

"Uh-huh!"

……

In less than two hours, Gu Yang brought Zhou Ye to the front door of his house.

Gu Yang stood in front of his villa, his finger hovering over the doorbell, hesitant to press it.

Zhou Ye stood behind him, fixing her bangs while looking at her phone screen.

"What's wrong?" Zhou Ye tilted her head to look at him. "Are you nervous?"

"It's okay, Xiaoyangzi, I'm not nervous at all!"

"I'm very popular with the elders!"

……

Gu Yang chuckled dryly, a fine layer of sweat already beading on his forehead. He took a deep breath and finally rang the doorbell.

"They're here!" Lin Jing's serious voice came from inside the house.

The door opened, and Lin Jing, wearing an apron, saw a strange girl standing next to her son. Her smile instantly froze.

"Mom..." Gu Yang forced himself to speak, "This is Zhou Ye, my... my girlfriend."

Zhou Ye placed her hands together in front of her, slightly curtsied, and her beige cashmere coat swayed gently with the movement, making her appear even more gentle and charming.

"mom……"

"No... Auntie... Happy New Year!"

(End of this chapter)