It's reasonable for me to be a three-time Golden Horse Award-winning director and an all-around

Chapter 203 Dating Routine; Romance? Even a dog wouldn't talk about that! "Woof woof woof"... (Seeking monthly votes)
"I'm going to change my clothes, it'll be quick, senior, please wait for me a little while."

It was a rare opportunity to go out alone with Lü Rui; calling it a "date" wouldn't be an exaggeration.

Liu Yifei naturally couldn't go out in her pajamas; she had to change into a nice outfit.

Before she could finish speaking, she ran back to her room like a gust of wind.

Five minutes later, she reappeared beside Lü Rui.

She wore a white ladylike dress with a small black bow tie, and her long, black hair fell casually over her shoulders with natural curls at the ends.

Her naturally beautiful face was without any makeup; her skin was fair and radiant, and her eyes and brows were curved, revealing a gentle and obedient nature. She looked exactly like a girl next door who had just come of age.

"Senior."

Seeing Lü Rui staring at her in a daze, Liu Yifei raised her hand and waved it lightly in front of his eyes, her voice cheerful, "We can set off now."

"okay."

Lu Rui snapped out of his daze, suppressed the strange feeling in his heart, and turned to walk outside.

Liu Yifei quickly followed, her hands behind her back, her steps skipping and hopping, her heart pounding with excitement like a fawn.

But just as she reached the door, her assistant's voice suddenly rang out from behind her: "Sissi, where are you going?"

Liu Yifei turned around abruptly, her smile vanishing instantly. Her eyes narrowed slightly, and she replied in a flat tone, "I'll be back in a bit."

Although her tone was calm, her beautiful eyes clearly held a "threat" and a "warning".

That look seemed to say: Don't you dare ruin my plans, or I'll never forgive you!

Assistant: "..."

She was startled by her boss's sudden expression and immediately froze, not daring to ask any further questions.

Liu Yifei was usually very kind to her, so she naturally wouldn't deliberately cause trouble. She immediately turned her head and pretended not to see anything, then quietly returned to her room.

Although she was nominally hired by Liu Xiaoli, and the boss had specifically instructed her to keep an eye on Liu Yifei and prevent her from wandering around at night.

But it's still light out; it's at most dusk...

And since he went out with Director Lü, it can't be considered "running around," right?

The assistant silently reassured herself, "Yeah, that's it, it definitely doesn't count."

"Ding!"

Just then, a QQ message notification sounded.

It was sent by Liu Yifei.

"Sweetie, I'll give you a bonus at the end of this month."

Assistant: "Loyalty!!!"

...

There is a movie theater inside Beverly Hills, which is operated by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

On special holidays, it is used as an event venue, and on weekdays it is open to the public for movie screenings.

Lu Rui gave his membership name and successfully obtained two movie tickets.

"There are so many people here!"

Liu Yifei followed them into the theater and was somewhat surprised to see the theater packed with seats.

Lü Rui explained, "This is a preview screening of 'Outside the Fence.' Apart from some specially invited ordinary audience members, the rest are colleagues and film critics from the industry."

The two walked to the back row and sat down.

Liu Yifei stared at the movie title on the screen, still somewhat puzzled.

"Outside the Fence?"

She had never even heard of this movie.

"It's produced by DreamWorks Animation."

As soon as Lü Rui finished speaking, Liu Yifei instantly perked up.

As an animation enthusiast, she knew DreamWorks, one of the three giants of American animation alongside Blue Sky Studios and Pixar, all too well.

She especially loves the movie "Madagascar" produced by this company, and she's still wondering when the second movie will be released.

"Outside the Fence" tells the story of forest animals, led by RJ the raccoon, who collectively sneak into residential areas to "steal food" in order to cope with the food shortage caused by human expansion.

In the process, they not only had to contend with suspicious human homeowners, but also resolve internal conflicts, and ultimately understood the meaning of "home and unity" amidst laughter and setbacks.

This story is reminiscent of Hayao Miyazaki's "Pom Poko".

After all, both films share the core theme of forests being invaded by humans and small animals struggling to survive.

This CG animation, created by the team behind "Madagascar," boasts incredibly vivid and realistic visuals, especially the fluffy texture of the animal fur and the effects of light and shadow, which are remarkably detailed.

As the movie ended, Lü Rui noticed the film critic sitting next to him taking notes on his viewing experience.

He naturally had his own judgment.

Even though it's only 2006, Hollywood's animation production level is already far ahead...

"Let's go."

He stood up and led Liu Yifei out of the theater.

The two walked and talked.

Lu Rui asked curiously, "If I remember correctly, you have a lot of cats and dogs at home, right?"

Liu Yifei nodded: "Yes, I like kittens and puppies. Their names are Candy, Laifu, and Baobao... The kitten you saw when you came to my house for dinner last time was called Huahua. I adopted another one after that..."

She chattered on and on, introducing her good friends to Lü Rui.

As usual, Lü Rui listened quietly, a faint warmth unconsciously rising in his heart.

After introducing her family's "good friends," Liu Yifei curiously followed up with, "Senior, isn't your company also making animated films? Will you be making animated movies later?"

"Yes, we will gradually develop this business," Lü Rui admitted.

That's precisely why he came to conduct the research.

Brom House's publishing business is expanding outwards and needs more high-quality works to support it.

Movies are one aspect, and animated films are another.

He didn't intend to directly develop into a giant like Disney, but if possible, he could try to develop the animation business, since it is a promising area for the future.

The main focus is naturally on Sino-foreign co-productions, utilizing foreign animation technology to drive the development of domestic animation technology.

"So, senior, have you decided what kind of animated film you want to make?" The first thing that came to Liu Yifei's mind was a cat-and-dog war, since her cat and dog often fight.

"I haven't thought of anything yet." Lü Rui shook his head, then subconsciously asked, "Do you have any recommendations?"

Liu Yifei was stunned for a moment, then tilted her head and started thinking about it carefully.

A moment later, she suddenly clapped her hands: "Take pictures of giant pandas! They're our national treasure, loved by people all over the world, they're sure to be popular!"

"Giant panda?"

Lu Rui was slightly taken aback, then cursed himself for being careless.

"Holy crap! How could I have forgotten about this!"

Panda!
This subject matter was taken by Hollywood in its previous life, which was a major pain point for the domestic animation industry at the time.

Kung Fu is Chinese, and so is the panda.

But when you combine the two, Kung Fu Panda becomes a Hollywood production, which is frustrating to think about!

Since you have the chance in this lifetime, why not take it back?

"Okay, I'll do as you say, I'll film the giant pandas!"

He immediately decided that, in addition to the special effects company, Peter also needed to assemble an animation team as soon as possible.

We'll then directly invest money to poach talent from Hollywood. Once the framework is in place, we'll collaborate with Ruiyue Animation, sharing technology and equipment.

Dry!
They're just sucking Hollywood dry!

Lu Rui made up his mind.

"Huh? You're really filming giant pandas?"

Liu Yifei's pupils contracted slightly, and there was a hint of panic in her voice.

She had only thought about it casually when she saw a panda doll in a shop window, never expecting that Lü Rui would actually take it seriously.

If my thoughtless remark causes the project to waste money and yield no results, that would be a real problem.
She unconsciously twisted the hem of her skirt with both hands, her fair face scrunched up, and she said in a somewhat urgent tone, "Why don't you think about it again? I was just saying it casually, I don't know anything about these things..."

Seeing her so nervous, like a frightened deer, Lü Rui couldn't help but smile. He gently tapped her forehead, his voice both gentle and firm:

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. If you don't trust yourself, don't you trust me?"

"Yes!"

Liu Yifei suddenly realized, and her tense shoulders instantly relaxed. But the next second, she pouted, raised her little fist at Lü Rui, and protested seriously, "Don't hit my head! You'll make me stupid!"

"Okay, I'll do as you say, I won't knock anymore." Lü Rui changed the subject, "I'll take you to eat something delicious, what do you want to eat?"

"I want to eat steak!"

"The Hilton Hotel is right next door, let's eat there."

"Then...can I have a little bit of red wine?" she asked tentatively, her voice barely audible.

"No, you can only drink milk." Lü Rui refused without even thinking.

"Hmph!" Liu Yifei puffed out her cheeks and said in a feigned huff, "If you won't let me drink, then I'm going to tell my mom that you keep hitting my head. What if you knock my brain out?"

"Then I'll take care of you."

Lu Rui's voice was light and airy, like an evening breeze brushing past your ear.

"Um?!"

Liu Yifei stopped abruptly, her whole body frozen in place.

The golden rays of the setting sun fell on her face and stained his earlobes red.

Did she mishear what she just said?
Lu Rui took a few steps, then, seeing that she hadn't followed, turned back curiously: "Come on, what are you standing there for?"

"You...you just said you would take care of me?"

She looked up, her eyes filled with a bewildered curiosity and a hint of expectation that she herself didn't even realize.

Looking at her flushed cheeks, Lü Rui suddenly wanted to tease her, so he deliberately added, "I mean, if you really get knocked silly, I'll take care of you."

"Then...then why don't you tap it a few more times?" Her face turned even redder, like a ripe cherry, and her voice became a soft, incoherent whisper, "I don't think I'm stupid yet..."

"Hahaha." Lu Rui laughed at her antics and held out his hand to her. "Alright, stop being silly and hurry up and let's go. Aren't you hungry?" "Hungry!"

Liu Yifei responded as if she had been burned, quickly ran forward, and carefully placed her small hand into Lü Rui's palm.

His hands were warm, enveloping hers, and a sweet warmth spread through her heart.

She glanced at him beside her, and the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curve into crescent moons.

When he was first reborn, Lü Rui had only one thought in his mind:
Dude, I have to focus on my career!

First, earn enough to reach a small goal as a foundation, and then we can talk about other things.

As for dating? He wouldn't even talk about that, let whoever wants to, talk about it. He's definitely not interested.

He always felt that he had returned with memories of his past life and was destined to make a name for himself in the business and film industries.

For someone who roams the world, romantic love will only hold them back.

But he never expected that his life trajectory would be disrupted by a little girl.

That time, I went to the actor audition to repay a favor. As soon as I walked out of the teaching building after the audition, I saw a little girl with a ponytail squatting by the steps, staring at me with bright eyes. She said she had been waiting for several hours and just wanted a phone call from me.

At that time, he was more curious about her and also found her somewhat novel.

After all, in his previous life, when he was a director shooting commercials, he had worked with her once, and she had already become a leading lady.

In my memory, she was a cheerful and highly professional girl. I never expected her to be so bold and direct when she was young.

Later, by chance, she became his "Wise Girl" and his go-to partner in many of his projects.

The more he got to know her, the more he realized how wonderful she was.

She's adorably serious when filming, yet she's also a bit stubbornly charming in private, and occasionally shows a little dependence on him.

Before I knew it, a feeling of goodwill had taken root.

The last time he threw her a birthday party, watching her surrounded by flowers and blessings, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons with laughter, he felt a strange sense of satisfaction welling up inside him.
Like flowers you planted yourself, finally blooming in full glory, vibrant and beautiful.

He suddenly thought, how could he let some wild boars destroy the flowers he had painstakingly nurtured? That was absolutely unacceptable.

Perhaps, one doesn't necessarily have to be all alone when wandering the world.

Stop, pick the flower that you like best, and carry it with you as you go. It doesn't seem so bad, does it?

……

Hilton hotels are known as a gathering place for Hollywood stars and a hub for countless connections and glitz and glamour.

As Lü Rui led Liu Yifei to the restaurant area, they bumped into a man and a woman who were walking out.

"Lv?" the man spoke first, his voice tinged with surprise.

“Hello, Mr. Cruise,” Lu Rui nodded in response.

He wasn't surprised to run into Tom Cruise.

The other person was also his neighbor, living not far from his villa, and they had occasionally bumped into each other on the street before.

"I never expected to meet you here."

Tom Cruise, with a warm smile on his face, reached out and shook hands with Lü Rui.

Normally, relying on his status and position as a top Hollywood star, he has always been somewhat arrogant.

However, when faced with a top film producer like Lü Rui, who had high-quality projects and could leverage hundreds of millions of dollars in investment, he was very polite, even showing a hint of deliberate goodwill.

"Have you just finished eating and are you getting ready to leave?"

After shaking hands with him, Lü Rui's gaze naturally fell on the female companion beside him.

“Yes, just finished.” Cruise introduced, “This is my girlfriend, Katie Holmes.”

"Nice to meet you." Lu Rui looked at the other person and greeted him politely.

He recognized the actress; she played Rachel Doss in "Batman Begins" last year and is Tom Cruise's fourth publicly acknowledged girlfriend.

Prior to this, Tom Cruise had relationships with Mimi Rogers, Nicole Kidman, and Penelope Cruz.

Among them, Nicole Kidman impressed Lü Rui the most.

In their past lives, the entanglements and grudges between this former couple were enough to make three movies—it was quite a spectacle!
"This is Crystal."

Lü Rui turned to the side and introduced Liu Yifei.

He didn't say much, but Tom Cruise added with a smile in his eyes, "Lv, your girlfriend is very beautiful."

Upon hearing this, Liu Yifei's cheeks instantly flushed red, as if they were tinged with the glow of the sunset.

Seeing that Lü Rui did not deny it, she felt an overwhelming surge of excitement.

However, her good upbringing allowed her to quickly regain her composure and greet Tom Cruise with grace and poise.

She naturally recognized this famous Hollywood actor, Tom Cruise.

She just didn't expect that Tom Cruise not only seemed familiar with Lü Rui, but also seemed to have a hint of admiration in his eyes.

But then she thought about it again and realized it was perfectly normal.

My senior is so talented that he was able to create a hit like "I Am Legend," so it's no wonder that others admire him.

Thinking this, she subconsciously straightened her back, and a hint of pride welled up in her eyes.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, they said their goodbyes.

Lü Rui led Liu Yifei into the restaurant.

After sitting down, the girl was still smiling with her lips pursed, and the sweetness in her eyes could not be hidden.

He chuckled inwardly, picked up the menu and handed it over: "Take a look and see what you'd like to eat. I'll treat you to the best today."

"Yeah~"

However, to their surprise, just as the waiter brought the two steaks to the table, a sharp argument suddenly broke the tranquility of the restaurant.

"Leon! I've had enough of your womanizing. Let's break up! I never want to see you again!"

The woman's voice was filled with barely suppressed anger and grievance.

"Gisele, let me explain, it's really not what you think..."

The man hurriedly tried to explain, his tone full of panic.

These two familiar names, coupled with the melodramatic breakup story, immediately caught the attention of Lü Rui and Liu Yifei.

The two turned their heads at the same time and saw Gisele Bündchen carrying a bag, walking angrily out of the restaurant in high heels, her delicate face full of frost.

Leonardo quickly followed behind her, reaching out to pull her along, but instead received a solid slap in the face!

"Snapped!"

The crisp sound silenced the surroundings for a few seconds.

Leonardo was stunned by the blow and could only watch helplessly as his girlfriend's figure disappeared through the door.

The surrounding diners turned their heads and began to whisper among themselves.

Lu Rui raised an eyebrow, looked away, picked up a piece of steak and ate it slowly, as if he were watching a show.

He was no stranger to the entanglement between the two.

In their past life, this golden couple had been entangled in a cycle of separation and reunion for several years.

Unfortunately, Leonardo DiCaprio could never change his "womanizing" nature and was unwilling to give up the whole forest for one tree.

Gisele Bündchen later seemed to have completely given up on the idea and married NFL star quarterback Tom Brady.

However, this seemingly perfect marriage did not last.

After giving birth to a son and a daughter, she eventually chose to divorce and later married a Jiu-Jitsu instructor.

In contrast, Leonardo DiCaprio had a constant stream of girlfriends for many years afterward, and none of them were older than 25.

However, Lü Rui does recall that in 2024, some media outlets reported that he seemed to be engaged to a 26-year-old model girlfriend, but the veracity of the news was uncertain.

This heartthrob's love life is even more complicated than his journey to win film awards.

"They...they are Leonardo DiCaprio and Gisele Bündchen?" Liu Yifei quietly leaned closer and asked in a low voice, her eyes full of surprise.

These two are both top figures in their respective fields, it's unexpected that they would cause such a scene in public.

"Okay." Lu Rui nodded, cut a piece of steak and handed it to her, "Eat yours, just watch other people's drama."

"Know it."

Liu Yifei nodded gently, but her eyes still held a lingering sense of wonder.

She truly hadn't expected today's "date" to be so exciting!

I watched a great animated movie, bumped into the famous Tom Cruise, and even witnessed international superstar Leonardo DiCaprio being slapped in public!

Compared to her previous monotonous daily routine of either filming or practicing piano at home, it's like opening the door to a whole new world.

Thinking about this, she quietly came to a conclusion: going on a "date" with her senior is still the most interesting!
After finishing their steak, Lü Rui took her to a nearby club to bowl for a while.

At first, Liu Yifei was clumsy and the ball kept rolling into the ditch. Later, under the guidance of Lü Rui, she gradually found her rhythm and won a few games. She smiled so much that her eyes narrowed into slits.

Around 8 p.m., the two set off to go home on time.

Although security in the Beverly Hills neighborhood is top-notch, it's still not appropriate to linger outside late at night.

More importantly, Liu Xiaoli might call to check up on you at any time.

If he were discovered to be out with someone's daughter late at night, it would be difficult to explain.

The image of the other person specifically instructing him to "take good care of his daughter" before leaving was still vivid in his mind, but he, instead of "taking care of" her, took her out to play until dark.

If this gets discovered, it will inevitably be quite embarrassing...

"Did you have fun today?" Lu Rui asked her as they entered the villa.

"I'm so happy!" Liu Yifei nodded vigorously, her voice full of joy. "It's a hundred times more fun than being at home!"

Looking into her bright eyes, Lü Rui's lips unconsciously curled up, and his mood improved along with her smile: "It's good that you're happy. Get some rest, you have to catch your flight back to China tomorrow."

"Okay! Goodnight, senior!"

Liu Yifei skipped and hopped back to her room, and before closing the door, she poked her head out and waved to him, then winked playfully.

Lu Rui smiled and waved in response. As he turned to go back to his room, his phone suddenly vibrated in his pocket.

It was a message from Peter:

"Lv, they agreed..."

(End of this chapter)