Huayu: This celebrity doesn't follow the rules.

Chapter 132 The Company's First Variety Show

Not far away, Huang Xiaoming, wearing sunglasses and a baseball cap, leaned discreetly against a pillar, his gaze occasionally glancing at Jiang Ye, who was looking down at his phone not far away, with a hint of inquiry and amusement in his eyes.

Jiang Ye seemed to notice his gaze, looked up, and asked in confusion, "Brother Xiaoming, why are you looking at me like that?"

Huang Xiaoming opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to make a joke about the late-night rumors he had heard at the restaurant that morning.

But then he thought that their relationship wasn't at the point where they could joke about such private matters, so he just smiled and swallowed his words.

However, he felt in his heart that although Jiang Ye was young, he was a kindred spirit to him.

They all like young people!

He changed the subject, pointing to the two girls who were happily shopping over there: "It's nothing, I was just curious, why did you ask me to come shopping with you? Wouldn't it be nice if the three of you shopped together?"

He always felt like a third wheel.

Jiang Ye certainly had his own purpose, otherwise why would he ask an old man to go shopping? But the time wasn't right yet.

He coughed lightly and offered a plausible reason: "Uh... I just thought it would be boring for you, Brother Ming, to stay in the hotel alone since it's your first time in Budapest. Let's go out for a walk and experience the local culture."

Huang Xiaoming was an extremely shrewd man; he could tell from Huang's expression that this guy probably had something to talk to him about.

He didn't point it out, but simply gave a meaningful "Oh~" and shook his head with a smile: "Alright, since Director Jiang has so kindly invited me, I'll accompany you on your tour. However..."

He lowered his voice, a hint of mockery in it, "Next time, you'll have to pay extra for this kind of 'protector of the flower and wingman' job."

Jiang Ye: "..."

He pretended not to hear and turned his gaze back to the stall.

Meng Ziyi and Zhou Ye had already picked out their items and were smiling and waving at him, signaling him to come over and pay.

Even in front of her sisters, Sister Meng still cares about her reputation.

As noon approached, the four of them got a little tired from walking around, so they found a restaurant nearby to have lunch.

Jiang Ye specifically chose a restaurant located in the heart of Budapest, near the Széchenyi Chain Bridge and on the banks of the Danube River.

This restaurant boasts an excellent location; a window seat offers panoramic views of the shimmering Danube River and the majestic Buda Castle on the opposite bank. The ambiance is elegant, tranquil, and sophisticated.

The restaurant's interior decoration blends European classical and modern styles, with white tablecloths, exquisite tableware, and a great atmosphere.

The cuisine offered is a modified version of modern European food, but it also incorporates some international elements, making the flavors relatively easy for Asian tourists to accept.

The four of them ordered a large table of dishes: pan-fried foie gras, Hungarian-style beef soup, roasted venison tenderloin, pan-fried cod with lemon butter sauce, as well as various salads and appetizers.

With delicious food in front of them, the atmosphere was relaxed and pleasant.

Meng Ziyi and Zhou Ye shared the souvenirs they had just bought, while Huang Xiaoming praised the view outside the window.

After several rounds of drinks and several dishes, Jiang Ye felt the time was right. He casually sliced ​​the venison on his plate and spoke.

"Speaking of which, whenever I stay abroad for a long time, I really crave a taste of authentic hometown food. Don't you guys think it's quite difficult to find a truly delicious and pleasant Chinese restaurant in Europe?"

Huang Xiaoming nodded in agreement: "Indeed. Many of them have been modified to cater to local tastes, so they always taste a bit off. Sometimes after finishing a promotional event, all I want is a bowl of hot porridge, but it's hard to find."

"Yes!"

Jiang Ye picked up the conversation as if he had suddenly thought of something, "What do you think about it? If... we really opened an authentic Chinese restaurant abroad, in a tourist city like Budapest, not to make money, but just to promote Chinese cuisine so that foreigners and our own people can all enjoy good food?"

Meng Ziyi blinked. "Open a restaurant? That's a great idea! How about a Northeastern Chinese restaurant?"

"I've just come up with a few new recipes!"

“Yes, I have a new product too!” Zhou Ye retorted, not to be outdone.

Jiang Ye ignored them and pretended they were talking nonsense. He had suffered quite a bit from the two girls' terrible cooking lately.

He turned his gaze to Huang Xiaoming and began to utter his core idea, "What I mean is, what if this is a show in itself? A reality show?"

"Find a few celebrities with influence like Ming Ge, pair them with someone who can cook, form a team, and have them run a Chinese restaurant abroad from scratch with limited funds. Film the whole process..."

Huang Xiaoming had been listening casually, but upon hearing this, his hand holding the wine glass paused slightly, and an interested look appeared in his eyes: "A celebrity running a restaurant? Recorded the whole process? This sounds... interesting."

"This is bound to be full of unexpected situations and hilarious moments."

He has a strong business sense and a knack for variety shows, and he immediately grasped the drama and appeal behind the idea.

At that time, there were no similar variety shows in China.

The show "Chinese Restaurant" launched by Hunan TV was modeled after "Youn's Kitchen," which was launched by South Korean TV station tvN in March 2017.

This program features actors such as Youn Yuh-jung, Lee Seo-jin, and Jung Yu-mi running a Korean restaurant in Bali, Indonesia. Through real-life documentation of purchasing, food preparation, and service, it showcases the celebrities' entrepreneurial journey from scratch in an unfamiliar environment.

Seeing his interest, Jiang Ye continued, "And think about it, Brother Xiaoming, if our 'A Thousand-Year Song' airs and does well, it will make Budapest even more popular and attract more tourists and attention."

"If we then immediately follow up by filming the first season of this celebrity-run Chinese restaurant variety show in Budapest..."

"Wouldn't you call this a brilliant collaboration?"

"The popularity generated by the TV series can directly benefit the variety show, making it a hit even before it airs. And the airing of the variety show can then continuously bring exposure and tourism appeal to Budapest."

"This is definitely a great thing for the Hungarian government and the Budapest city government! It will be much easier to apply for filming permits, coordinate venues, and even seek some official support."

"This is a win-win situation for both cultural export and tourism promotion!"

Huang Xiaoming's eyes lit up completely.

He fully understood Jiang Ye's idea.

This is not just an interesting variety show idea, but also a highly feasible and forward-looking business plan.

The energy generated by cleverly combining film and television works, variety shows, tourism promotion, and cultural output is enormous.

It also contains a large part of policy support!
He leaned forward slightly, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the table, clearly deep in thought: "Your idea... is really good."

"The timing, location, and synergistic effects... all were very well grasped. If it is actually implemented, its influence will be considerable."

His gaze toward Jiang Ye held a hint of approval. "Ah Ye, you're not just good at acting, you're also a master at planning."

Jiang Ye smiled modestly: "I was just thinking about it randomly. I mainly thought it was interesting and could work. If you, Brother Xiaoming, also find it interesting, we can discuss it in detail and find a platform to work on together!"

"Sure! We can definitely talk!"

Huang Xiaoming nodded affirmatively, clearly deeply attracted by the idea of ​​this "Chinese restaurant". Meng Ziyi and Zhou Ye listened to the two men's overall plan, and although they didn't understand some of the details, they felt that it seemed very impressive.

Zhou Ye whispered to Meng Ziyi, "Sister Meng, if we really make a restaurant variety show, you'll definitely get a lot of viewers if you work as a waitress."

Meng Ziyi snorted, raised her chin, and struck a haughty pose: "Why should I be a waitress? I want to be the boss's wife! The kind who's beautiful and counts money!"

Zhou Ye blinked her innocent big eyes and earnestly suggested, "But the boss's wife also has to work, right? And Brother Xiaoming looks more like the boss..."

"Huh? He's the boss? Then I'll be the chef! My cooking skills have improved a lot lately, even Jiang Ye praised me!"

Meng Ziyi readily agreed and immediately changed her tune, then playfully poked Zhou Ye's cheek.

"As for you, little sister, you'll be in charge of being our mascot. Stand at the door and use your face to attract customers, making every one of them fall in love with you!"

Zhou Ye quickly waved her hand, her face slightly red: "No, no, I'll definitely mess it up... I, I'll go to the kitchen to wash dishes, that's what I'm better at."

"Come on! With the way you break two dishes while washing them, if you really went to the kitchen, our store would lose money before it even opened!"

Her eyes lit up and another idea popped into her head, "How about this, you don't have to do anything, just sit there and eat! Just act like a customer who eats with great relish, making everyone's mouth water. That'll be a contribution to the restaurant!"

Zhou Ye: "..."

For a moment, she couldn't tell whether Meng Ziyi was praising her or insulting her.

The two girls' whispers and giggles interrupted the men who were daydreaming about the future.

Huang Xiaoming looked over with a smile: "What are you two young ladies plotting? Do you also want to get involved in opening a restaurant?"

Meng Ziyi immediately interjected, "Brother Xiaoming, we're assigning roles! I'll be the chef, and Xiao Ye will be... the signature dish!"

Zhou Ye's face turned even redder, and she protested softly, "Sister Meng!"

Jiang Ye found it somewhat amusing to see the two girls looking so happy.

Once the variety show "Chinese Restaurant" becomes popular, most of the artists from my company will take turns being regular guests.

When that time comes, I guess I won't be laughing anymore.

Not knowing how to cook is truly embarrassing, especially internationally; they'd be worried sick about it themselves.

After lunch, the four of them took a walk along the Danube River and unknowingly arrived at the famous Fisherman's Bastion.

This Neo-Gothic and Neo-Romanesque observation deck, located on Buda Castle Hill, is uniquely designed with seven spires resembling a fairytale fortress. Its long white colonnade and winding staircases offer stunning views of the Danube River, the Chain Bridge, and the Hungarian Parliament Building on the opposite bank, making it one of Budapest's most famous attractions.

Meng Ziyi and Zhou Ye were instantly captivated by the dreamlike scenery and immediately started taking photos like crazy.

Under the white arcades, on the ancient stone steps, and in front of the viewing platform overlooking the whole city, the two took photos of each other and themselves, having a great time.

After taking a group photo at a perfect vantage point that offered a view of both the Chain Bridge and the Parliament House, Meng Ziyi's eyes darted to Jiang Ye, who was chatting with Huang Xiaoming to the side.

She immediately waved and called out, "Brother Xiaoming, Director Jiang! Let's take a group photo together!"

She originally intended to call only Jiang Ye, but felt that would be too obvious, so she had no choice but to bring Huang Xiaoming along.

Jiang Ye smiled and walked over with Huang Xiaoming.

"Come on, let me take the picture for you."

Huang Xiaoming took Meng Ziyi's phone and acted as her photographer.

He's very easy to get along with in private, especially with young women, where he's completely down-to-earth.

No wonder there are rumors that Xiao Ming is the easiest to seduce among top male actors...

Without any hesitation, Meng Ziyi immediately and affectionately took Jiang Ye's left arm, leaned slightly towards him, and smiled brightly.

Zhou Ye appeared somewhat shy, quietly standing to Jiang Ye's right, but maintaining a clear safe distance between them, simply smiling faintly at the camera.

Huang Xiaoming looked at the scene through his phone screen and felt a little awkward, especially since Zhou Ye's side was empty.

He was a little puzzled. Why were young people so reserved?

You stayed up all night last night, what's there to be ashamed of?
Aren't we all family here?
"Xiao Zhou, why are you standing so far away? Come a little closer, we're all family here."

"Or do you have a problem with our director?"

His joke made Zhou Ye's face turn red instantly, and she was somewhat at a loss for words.

Huang Xiaoming was still giving instructions: "Get closer, learn from your Sister Meng, be more natural! Hey, right... hug his arm! That'll make the scene more harmonious!"

Zhou Ye was caught in a dilemma, so she could only carefully and slowly reach out and gently take Jiang Ye's right arm.

When her fingertips touched his arm, her heart skipped a beat, then began to pound like a drum, the thumping sound almost audible to herself.

She could clearly feel the strong muscle lines of his arms, her cheeks began to burn uncontrollably, and even the roots of her ears turned a light pink. Her eyes shyly drifted to the ground, not daring to look at Jiang Ye at all.

Jiang Ye, on the other hand, felt pretty good.

On the left is the warm and soft touch of Meng Ziyi's generous and tight embrace, as well as the bright and flamboyant fragrance on her body.

On the right, Zhou Ye carefully and slightly stiffly supported him, and you could feel the slight trembling of her fingertips and the amazing heat coming through the fabric, as well as the sweet and faint fragrance emanating from her body.

The simultaneous arrival of two completely different temperatures and aromas left him momentarily disoriented.

When he was reborn, he actually had a dream: to retire early and travel the world with the girls.

But before he knew it, his career was getting busier and busier, and now he doesn't even have time to pick up girls.

Now, in this foreign land, seeing two girls arm in arm like this, he felt a strange sensation in his heart, a kind of... inexplicable pleasure.

"Perfect! That's more like it!"

Huang Xiaoming smiled as he finished taking the picture and handed the phone back to Meng Ziyi, completely unaware that he had just given an assist.

Meng Ziyi looked at the photo, still laughing carefree.

Zhou Ye quickly released her hand as if she had been burned, her eyes darting around as she pretended to look at the distant scenery, trying to calm her still wildly beating heart.

Jiang Ye felt the temperature suddenly disappear on both sides, and a faint regret flashed through his heart, but he remained calm on the surface and just coughed lightly: "Let's go after we've taken the pictures. There seem to be better viewing platforms ahead."

(End of this chapter)